While Robert Downey Junior initially seemed an odd choice as the actor elected to portray Ironman, his cheeky playboy personality is Tony Stark down to a tee. Stark, the billionaire businessman and serial womaniser, takes on the role of Ironman when he is forced to break out of a prison in the Middle East and has only his engineering genius and some discarded metal at hand. Cue much welding and experimenting as Stark creates and later perfects his famed iron suit in scenes that may have been tedious were it not for Downey’s quick witted remarks and natural charisma. It all symbolises a turning point for Stark, who realises that his business is unethical and not worth the money it earns him. Ironman is a political superhero, fighting injustices both at home and abroad and coming up against his own enemies too: Jeff Bridges is surprisingly suited to the role of Obadiah Stane, Ironman’s personal enemy. Some of the action scenes are thrilling, particularly as Ironman’s suit is a like a bag of tricks, constantly wowing us with explosions and unbelievable flying speed. Behind the suit, however, and carefully disguised by his flashy lifestyle, Stark is a lonely man with only his assistant and potential love interest, Pepper Potts (Paltrow) to look out for him. But Ironman is no psychoanalysis of a superhero; this movie remembers that it is an action flick and remains bright, fun and amusing throughout, a friendly alternative to the noir-ish Dark Knight. Ironman deserves a second viewing and certainly warrants a sequel.
