“Iron Man” big budget superhero movie that will thrill, amuse

News Editor Frank Wisswell and Lifeline Reporter Brad Canze give readers an “Ebert and Roeper”-like review on the new summer blockbuster film “Iron Man.”

Here’s Wisswell’s take:

I’ve been patiently waiting for “Iron Man” ever since I saw a leaked trailer online a year ago.

About 365 days later, this film lives up to the hype. Sort of.

The thing I liked about the trailer was that it showed the movie to be more human, and most importantly witty. While the movie is still funny, some of the best jokes are in the trailer.

Robert Downey Jr. was fantastic as Tony Stark, a morally bankrupt billionaire weapons manufacturer who all of a sudden turns good guy after being held captive by three months by a terrorist cell.

Unfortunately, the audience is left out of most of the character progression. Instead, we go from seeing Stark at his worst to suddenly seeing Stark at his best. We don’t see any of the moral ambiguity that some Marvel films (“Spider-Man,” “X-Men” and “The Hulk”) have perfected.

While Downey is good in his role, the rest of the characters come across as flat and undeveloped. Stark’s antagonist, Obadiah Stane, is a straight up bad guy while his best friend Rhodes is barely utilized save for when the plot demands him.

Meanwhile, Stark’s assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) comes across as the most empowering “normal” (non-superpowered) female we’ve seen in any Marvel movie so far. On two different occasions, she saves her boss’s life whether he realizes it or not.

At the same time, the character isn’t given time to develop and the entire movie focuses on the titular Iron Man.

As in the comic books, Stark is one of the most flawed superheroes we’ve seen on-screen, a fact he openly acknowledges. While Stark thinks this makes him a worse hero, he realizes by the end that his humanity makes his contributions even more incredible.

At the same time, Stark is constantly portrayed in the comic book as an alcoholic. While indeed Stark can often be spotted with a scotch in his hand during the film, the serious issues of alcoholism are either ignored or so subtle that a viewer without background would just think Stark liked scotch.

At least in part, this film has to contain a little political commentary given the situation it takes place in. However, the film doesn’t come off as heavy-handed and instead the message seems to be “take responsibility for your actions” rather than “war is evil.”

In a way, though Stark and Stane present two alternate views of America.

Stark is the plucky underdog who can get out of situations due to ingenuity and sheer will. Stark feels he must take responsibility for stopping the evil around him, and he does it the best he can, even if it means putting himself in danger.

Stane, on the other hand, is a capitalist, tried and true. He deals weapons on the side to any despot who will pay for them and tries to organize Stark’s murder as part of a power grab.

So which America will win out? In the movie, the answer is clear, but in the end only time will tell.

Wisswell’s review: four out of five stars

And Canze’s take:

Director Jon Favreau shrugs off many conventions of the superhero genre, and rockets his “Iron Man” up into the stratosphere with “Spider-Man 2″ and “Batman Begins” as the cream of the comic book crop.

The story is a pretty straightforward yarn of corporate backstabbing and the transformation of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) from a womanizing war profiteer to a hero with an unbreakable heart, who may still indulge in the ladies and spirits from time to time.

Although any attentive audience member can more or less predict where this film is going to end up throughout, Favreau and his cast make sure there is a supreme amount of fun to be had all the way through. It is obvious that Downey is having a lot of fun in his role.

Although his Stark is the only heavily developed character in the film, he plays it with such electricity and whimsical intelligence that every other character seems more interesting because of the opportunities to play off of Downey. There has never been a more perfectly cast superhero role in a Hollywood film.

That is not to say that the other actors in this film leave anything to be desired. The “What are they doing in a comic book movie?” trio of Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges, as Stark’s buddy, love interest and business partner respectively, all do admirable jobs with what they are given.

However, what they are given are roles that are merely functions of Tony Stark meaning their performances and indeed the entire movie hinges on Downey’s stellar performance. After years of turmoil and battling with addiction, Downey may finally be getting his megastar turn. The notorious former drug addict is playing a role here that little kids will say they want to be when they grow up.

Although largely formulaic without, the movie is saved by great action scenes, even greater dialogue and performances, and an ending that will knock the knickers off anyone who thinks to have this whole “superhero thing” figured out. After a last line that is at once clever, hilarious and the only appropriate way to end the movie, one just may want to wait to readjust their knickers until after the closing credits, where they just may be knocked off again.

“Iron Man” is an intelligent big-budget thrill ride that will thrill and amuse children and adults. The summer movie season could not ask for a better initial release. If the remaining big releases of the season can live up to this one, 2008 will be a blockbuster summer to remember.

Canze’s review: four out of five stars

lifeline@cm-life.com