Iron Man (2008)

For the first step into a much larger world, Jon Favreau’s ‘Iron Man’ is an impressive film. It did what no other film has successfully done in kick-starting a universe. Others since have failed or at least fallen flat like Tom Cruise’s ‘The Mummy’ and Zack Snyder’s polarising ‘Man of Steel’. Favreau perfectly managed to create a film that encapsulates the Marvel formula to come and sets up just enough connections to hint that there is a larger world outside of Tony Stark’s story. But how does the film actually hold up?

Favreau has clear direction here. The film is very much a complete product with identifiable moments that have become iconic. Everything works cohesively to achieve one goal: make Tony Stark likeable. This of course fits with Marvel’s primary objective to create loveable heroes and build stories around them. ‘Iron Man’ is perhaps the best example of this. 10 years down the line, Robert Downey Jr.’s performance is impossible to not crack a smile at. Tony may not be your typically hero but that’s what is so effective. The villains he fights, his friends and his actions all perfectly work to suit the character. Without Downey’s performance this simply couldn’t be pulled off. He is Tony Stark. A recasting at this point would just be wrong. Without a doubt, he is perfect within this film.

However since Favreau decides to place everything on Tony, other elements can seem weak. The villains are reasonably subpar (they’re no Aldrich Killian but still), some of the supporting cast aren’t especially unique and even Pepper Potts gets side-lined slightly. She however does work effectively alongside Tony. Gwyneth Paltrow and Downey have undeniably brilliant chemistry. Other Marvel negatives are prevalent here also. The cinematography is nothing special and the soundtrack only really has one memorable song which is admittedly very fitting for the Tony as his theme. Action-wise the film is decently creative but nothing is incredibly awe-inspiring. Since the second act fight is good enough, the strange lack of action can be forgotten but still for an action film, there is an awful lot of talking.

Overall, ‘Iron Man’ is certainly a film that I feel still is very watchable. It isn’t anything outstanding but Downey’s performance is so astronomically fantastic that any fault falls by the wayside. For a first entry into the MCU, ‘Iron Man’ is certainly an achievement that is worth admiring if nothing else.