Starring:Robert Downey Jr.Jeff BridgesGwyneth PaltrowTerrence Howard
Rated: PG-13
Directed by:Jon Favreau
Katelyn's rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 4
Peter Travers' rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 4
rottentomatoes:93 percent fresh
Move over Spiderman, there's a new superhero in town. As the latest addition to the long line of Marvel Comics' adaptations, "Iron Man" proves to be an edgy frontrunner for this summer's incoming superhero flicks.
Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist who owns Stark Industries, the leading high-tech weapons maker in America.
After a routine trip to Afghanistan to promote a new line of military weapons, he is captured by a rebel regime and forced to construct a missile for them.
Being an intelligent and resourceful man, he decides to use his time in captivity to make an ironclad suit to break out of the Afghanistan cave where he is imprisoned, hence the name Iron Man.
Upon returning to the U.S., a changed Stark pulls the plug on his company's distribution, stating that it will no longer produce weapons. He then devotes all his time to building a new revolutionary ironclad suit to help rid the world of evil.
Stark's new feelings about his company's role in the world are not shared by everyone, including his corporation's right-hand man, Obadiah Stane, played by Jeff Bridges.
"Iron Man" also stars big- name actors Gwyneth Paltrow and Terrence Howard.
Paltrow plays Pepper Potts, Stark's personal assistant and semi-love interest. Howard tackles the role of Jim Rhodes, Stark's partner, closest friend and chief aviation officer for Stark Industries.
Both are smaller roles compared to Downey Jr., who is the lifeline of this film.
"Iron Man" is unlike many superhero movies due to the fact that the main character does not have any real superhuman abilities. Stark is just an ordinary man who decides to take action against those who hurt others.
Although Downey Jr. may not seem like the immediate first choice in viewers' minds to star as a superhero, he proves to be just what the doctor ordered.
Known for being an "actor's actor," he gets his character's personality just right, as a wisecracking playboy and industrial genius.
Downey Jr., who bulked up quite a bit to play the part, added a comic and humble flair to Stark, which made it easy for the audience to get attached to him.
Director and actor Jon Favreau, who is also responsible for "Elf," hit this film out of the water, raking in more than $104 million in the opening weekend. This outrageous intake landed "Iron Man" the prestigious honor of being the tenth biggest opening in Hollywood history.
Although "Iron Man" may not be as well known as Superman or Batman, or have the skin-tight leather outfit, it is one of the most entertaining superhero movies I have seen in a long time. t&c;
