Iron Man

***1/2 Stars

If you are a moviegoer, then there are no other ways to start off a summer movie season than to see something as explosively great as Iron Man. Just when you thought that the superhero film genre has started to stall, Iron Man revs your engines to the fullest degree. The main reason for this is someone named Robert Downey Jr.

From what we all know, Downey has had a rough road both career and personal wise. After dealing with divorce and drug problems, not only has he been working steady on such great films as Zodiac and Good Night and Good Luck, but he has also formed a resurrection of his whole image. The man has always been a terrific actor with no questions asked, but this role finally gave him a ticket to super-stardom. He quotes, "I'm tired of being in films no one sees."

Director Jon Favreau doesn't have a huge track record for action, but damn does he disguise that well. With a budget of $140 million, Iron Man is technically and visually flawless. However, what makes this superhero movie edge out other adaptations are the small ingredients thrown in. There are times in this film where there is few little action, but has a great story to fall back on. The human of Iron Man is named Tony Stark, an eccentric billionaire out to create the most sophisticated weapons technology out there. Taking over the legacy from his late father, Tony has become an American Icon. But when he is captured in Afghanistan and held in captivity in three months, Stark's mindset changes. He witnesses his own technology killing the very people he intended to save. So the only way for Stark to escape is to device armor capable of invincibility. Good thing he is a genius. After creating the first Iron Man suit, Stark bashes his way out and back to America, where he soon realizes what he has to do: destroy the machinery that he created.

Gwyneth Paltrow (whose never looked so beautiful) plays Pepper Pots (Stark's assistant) who does anything he asks. The chemistry between these two characters and actors are some of the best scenes in the movie. Downey even admitted that Paltrow was his dreamgirl and to do this movie with her was just flat-out incredible. Both Ms. Pots and Mr. Stark seem to be in love with each other but aren't quite ready to seal the deal.

Things are not all sunshine and rainbows upon Tony's return. Obadiah Stane (a bald and bearded Jeff Bridges) Stark's business partner is frustrated with Tony's decision to shutdown the weapons branch of the company. After their stock drops 56 points, Obadiah and company try to take things into his own hands, setting up the final act in the film, where Stark also has created the flawless and final Iron Man suit. Terrence Howard plays the liaison to Stark Enterprises and is clearly being set up to become Iron Man's superhero partner in the sequel, slated for April of 2010.

Iron Man rocks. Its pure Hollywood, but sometimes we all want that guilty pleasure. We know that these actors are having the time of their lives. Plus with a $100 million opening, both the cast & crew and the studios can finally relax and enjoy the moment together. The summer is here. Let's keep it coming.