By now you've probably seen most of the trailers for this summer's crop of Hollywood blockbusters. If you're like me, most of them have probably left you cold and empty. What Happens in Vegas? Is that really supposed to be a big summer spectacle? You Don't Mess With the Zohan??? First, the title is a mouthful. Second, there is not one funny moment in the trailer (for reals--watch it and count). The Love Guru? Enough!!! Luckily the first big movie of the summer is a rousing success. Iron Man is everything one could hope for in a super-hero movie and more. It's got humor, heart, and a message (suck on it, Ghostrider!). Hollywood has had to move on to second tier heroes having used up Spider-man, Batman, and The Man of Steel, usually resulting in films that are both tremendous wastes of time and celluloid (I'm looking at you, Ghostrider!). But Iron Man is a rare exception. It's every bit as good as Spider-Man 2, my favorite super hero movie to date.
Robert Downey Jr. is the movie. His Tony Stark is charming and likable even when he's producing weapons of mass destruction and thoughtlessly bedding scores of Maxim models. It's nice also to see a genius multi-millionaire who isn't brooding all the time--I mean, I know your parents were killed in front of you, Mr. Wayne, but lighten up already. I think a weekend in Vegas with Tony Stark is just what the doctor ordered.
Gwyneth Paltrow has never been prettier as Stark's assistant, Pepper Potts. I was obsessed with Paltrow in college. I even created something I called The Wall of Gwyneth in my dorm room, though because of my ridiculously large Morrissey poster, my roommate still thought I was gay. Jeff Bridges is appropriately gruff as the villainous cigar-chomping, scotch-swilling baddie, Obadiah Stane. He is also a glowing example of why when I shave my head I also usually shave my beard--it looks super dumb otherwise. Terrence "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" Howard is fine as Stark's Air Force buddy. The scene where he is running around Stark's oceanside compound shouting Tony's name is unintentional comedy gold.
Gwyneth Paltrow has never been prettier as Stark's assistant, Pepper Potts. I was obsessed with Paltrow in college. I even created something I called The Wall of Gwyneth in my dorm room, though because of my ridiculously large Morrissey poster, my roommate still thought I was gay. Jeff Bridges is appropriately gruff as the villainous cigar-chomping, scotch-swilling baddie, Obadiah Stane. He is also a glowing example of why when I shave my head I also usually shave my beard--it looks super dumb otherwise. Terrence "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" Howard is fine as Stark's Air Force buddy. The scene where he is running around Stark's oceanside compound shouting Tony's name is unintentional comedy gold.I didn't know much of anything about Iron Man going in, so I didn't have an expectations. I was delighted by the film, as was the row of super dorks that sat in front of me. One man (balding, long-ass ponytail), there with his children, went ape shit several times, especially during the scene at the close of the end credits. So, I guess superfans dig it too.
Random question: How effective is a terrorist group made up of people who speak several different languages and can't understand each other going to be? My guess is not very effective at all.
GEP's Grade: A
