TNMC

The best action movies always have the same effect on me. Leaving the theater I can almost feel myself in the shoes of the hero, to the degree that I start adopting little bits of the character into my everyday motions.  The first time I can recall this happening was after seeing The Empire Strikes Back and nearly breaking my neck trying to duplicate Luke Skywalker's backflip through the jungles of Dagobah.  Since then I've settle down enough that injuries no longer occur but I definitely leave an action movie with a bit of a strut to my walk.  Iron Man features a scene in which the title character does a bit of a sky dance with a pair of F-22 Raptors.  It's such an inspired bit of action that on the way home I was more than a bit aggressive hammering my minivan down the backroads to the house.  This is of course, particularly silly behavior for a 37 year old father of two, but the movie got under my skin and let out that little kid who still thinks he can pull off a backflip with just a bit more practice.

So yeah, I liked the movie a lot.  I don't get out to the movies nearly as much as I used to anymore.  Parenting and burying my mind in an attempted writing career has mostly failed to leave me the time for regular trips to the theater.  Netflix keeps me steadily fed on films but it's just not the same as going to the theater.  And director Jon Favreau planted a little seed in my head with the footage he brought to last year's San Diego Comic Con.  Prior to that, Iron Man was low on my radar.  I'd certainly read the comic as a kid but it was never a favorite.  But that footage told me two things with certainty, Robert Downey Jr. was a brilliant choice to play Tony Stark and the effects could bring alive the best parts of that comic.  It was just a taste but it got my ass out of the office chair and into a theater seat with a big soda and popcorn as companions.

There is a joy of filmmaking at the heart of this movie that elevates it above most similar movies.  When Tony Stark takes his metal suit out for the first flight, he is overjoyed with the experience and that feeling is infectious.  We actually share in that joy.  The character is built so well that we fully support him in his crazy plans and giggle with glee when he pulls it off.  I'll spare you the rehash of the comic.  You fans already know it and the rest of you don't give a damn.  The point is that Downey makes the character authentic and thus makes you care about him.  And from there, the brilliant effects from ILM and Stan Winston make the ride an absolute blast.

This is what I want in a summer movie.  It has spectacle in spades but it also has great characters and a decent story.  I'll chuck plausibility out the window if you give me those things.  Downey is great fun, tossing around one-liners like comedic hand grenades.  Gwyneth Paltrow is utterly charming.  When was the last time I said that?  Terrence Howard doesn't get enough to do for such a talented actor but he helps make his character better than it has any business being.  And I loved Jeff Bridges to death for his snake of a character.  To think this guy played The Dude speaks loudly for his range and ability.  It's such a good cast that Favreau nearly cuts himself out of the movie to give the rest of the cast more space.  And I don't think I've ever thought a movie needed less Jon Favreau.

My biggest regret is that I think it's too violent to take my kids to see.  Because I'd love to go again and they would have provided the perfect excuse.  I really can't wait for them to get a bit older so we can start to venture out of the G or light PG territory.

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