Deborah Ross

Tired old friend

<strong>Iron Man</strong><em><br /> 12A, Nationwide</em>

issue 03 May 2008

Iron Man
12A, Nationwide

Iron Man is a Hollywood superhero blockbuster and probably the first of a franchise, even though it already feels like the 64th. These movies are always, in their way, whopping piles of junk, but they can be hugely enjoyable whopping piles of junk. The first Superman with Christopher Reeve, Tim Burton’s Batman Returns and Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man were all good, entertaining films, but is there anywhere left to go? The plots are now like old friends: a hero who is one thing by day and another by night; a svelte and lovely lady assistant who has no idea; an evil nemesis always intent on global domination (‘first, you; next, the world!’). But I can stay at home to see old friends. I don’t know if I want to go to the cinema for that.

This has a great line-up, as such films inevitably do, and stars Robert Downey Jnr as our Iron Man by night, although not at first.

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