Robert Downey Jnr plays Tony Stark, a high living, womanising weapons manufacturer who suffers an attack of conscience when he realises his legacy, and turns himself into Iron Man.
He has no super powers, other than his genius, so he creates an impenetrable metal suit, firstly for his own survival, and then to save the world!
If you are not a fan of the versatile and talented Mr Downey Jnr, you will not enjoy this movie, as there is barely a frame without him in it.
I love him - with barely a sardonic flick of one eyebrow, he can convey more expression than most actors of his generation manage in a whole film.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays the wonderfully named but thinly drawn Pepper Potts, Stark's loyal assistant.
Normally coldly attractive but curiously sexless, here Paltrow is still fashionably slim, but looks womanly and sexy. Marriage, motherhood and a less rigid diet look good on her.
A shaven headed Jeff Bridges provides Stark with a worthy adversary, Terrence Howard plays it straight as Stark's personal pilot and look out for a fun cameo by comic book legend Stan Lee.
Leslie Bibb as journalist Christine Everhart is attractive and intelligent, so obviously she is happy to abandon her interview and be seduced by Stark.
No doubt this is a personal gripe, but, along with inept police and corrupt politicians to name just two, this brand of female reporter is stereotype which seem sadly inevitable and self perpetuating in movie land.
Both appeallingly silly and somehow darkly real (particularly the scenes set in Afghanistan) Iron Man manages to be both a comic book caper and an examination of the weapons industry as mass produced consumerism.
Not very subtle hints point clearly towards a sequel. Expect to see more of Iron Man.
4 Stars.
First published in the Evening Gazette
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