Critics are all over the place in their reviews of the Robert Downey, Jr. movie, Iron Man. I really liked two things about the film. Mr. Downey is perfect in his role, although the script has him changing like a chameIeon all through the movie. And the special effects are dazzling. Overall, though, I didn’t like it much. Let me add that I took two 10-year-old boys and they liked it a lot. I’m hoping my additional experience entitles me to be critical of something they liked.
I particularly agree with Kenneth Turan’s review in the Los Angeles Times, in case you would like to see how a professional expresses many of the same views I hold. I also have some objections that are different than the ones he mentioned, but he was working with space limitations and couldn’t cover them all.
Consider that Mr. Downey’s character is in Afghanistan riding in a U.S. military vehicle and he is sipping whisky over ice from a nice glass. I guess that establishes elitist privilege, but I didn’t like it in a movie made for kids.
Then there is this super invention that works as an unprecedented source of energy, and Mr. Downey’s company owns it. Mr. Downey wants to re-fashion his missile business to get out of weapons manufacturing. Does he use the new energy source to solve our transportation or global energy problems? No. He uses it to create an updated version of “robocop” and goes out to smash the jihadists with his fists.
Call this a missed opportunity to show kids the power of imagination.
The movie’s main problem is that it was on several plot development tracks at once and couldn’t find home. I suppose they cobbled it together as well as could be done under the circumstances.
I think we adults have a responsibility to choose movies that encourage imagination and not just cave to kids’ desire for shoot-’em-up action. By those standards, Iron Man is a failure.
I welcome your thoughts.
