Review: 'Iron Man' - PG-13

The story

In Afghanistan, arrogant and brilliant weapons inventor-playboy Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) shows off the Jericho, his company's latest anti-terrorist missile. But terrorists capture Stark and force him to build a Jericho for them. Defying his captors, Stark constructs a high-tech armored flying suit instead, transforming himself into a weapon - "Iron Man." During his captivity, Stark also undergoes a moral transformation. "Don't waste your life," fellow captive Yinsen (Shaun Toub) tells him. Back in the U.S., Stark recreates Iron Man, determined to use it for good. "I had my eyes opened," he says. "I don't want a body count to be my only legacy."

Meanwhile, terrorists Raza and Abu Bakaar (Faran Tahir, Sayed Badreya) collect the remains of Stark's original Iron Man, intending to replicate the invention. With help from Army friend Jim "Rhody" Rhodes (Terrence Howard) and administrative assistant Virginia "Pepper" Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), Stark begins his new life as superhero. His mission - to foil the renegade members of Stark Industries who have been "dealing under the table," selling weapons to terrorists. Will he succeed? Does Tony have a heart? Can he and Pepper acknowledge their love? Will you have a good time at "Iron Man"? You betcha.

Actors

Robert Downey Jr. is smart, arrogant, soulful and heroic as Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. He's as good a conflicted superhero as Tobey Maguire was in "Spiderman" (2002) or Christian Bale in "Batman Begins" (2005). Plus, Downey brings a bit of James Bond to the role. "Give me a scotch," he says. "I'm starving." Ubiquitous Terrence Howard is loyal Col. Jim Rhodes, Gwyneth Paltrow plays beautiful, brainy and plucky Pepper Potts, and Jeff Bridges is ambiguous business partner Obadiah Stane. Faran Tahir and Sayed Badreya are the bad guys. Stay through the credits for Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury).

Other comments

"Iron Man" has what we want - exciting action and heroics, interesting characters, convincing special effects, and a smart script. Director Jon Favreau gets the action right and allows time for Downey to change his character (much as he has changed his own public image). Only the movie's bad guy is disappointing. He's no Doc Ock (Alfred Molina in "Spiderman 2"). "Iron Man" is two hours long and a little talky. Rated PG-13 for action, violence and a suggestive scene, it's not for small kids. Older children and adults will find plenty of pleasures - action, humor and a script with some political relevance. A couple of rows behind me, 10-year-old twins David and Daniel saw "Iron Man" with their mom. "We loved it," they said. I did too.  

Final words

See Robert Downey

Become "Iron Man" -

Movie superhero -

You'll become a fan.