'Iron Man' (12A) Starring Robert Downey Jr. & Gwyneth Paltrow

The first of the big summer movies is upon us, and Iron Man comes with its own set of problems for the newly-formed Marvel Studios. First, despite being one of the lesser-known Marvel characters, Iron Man has a substantial, and fiercely loyal, fan base, more than willing to tear into any filmmaker who fails to do their character justice. Secondly, the franchise poster boy is none other than Robert Downey Jr. - somewhat of a risk for a multi-million dollar project.

Downey Jr. plays the role of Tony Stark, a weapons dealer and technological genius. He’s also a billionaire playboy, with his drinking and dalliances swept under the carpet by his loyal assistant, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). This is all turned upside down, however, when Stark is captured by terrorists in the Middle East, who then force him to build them a missile. He instead builds an iron battle suit, and fights his way to freedom. Seeing the destruction his company has done, Stark modifies the suit and becomes Iron Man, looking to put right all that he has put wrong. He is helped by his best friend, soldier Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard), however forces within his own company are on to his secret mission, and are out to stop him...

Whilst not quite possessing the gritty realism of Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, it’s clear this is a superhero movie for a slightly older crowd - Stark gets drunk, has one night stands and shoots to kill. Spider-man this is not. What makes the story great, however, is the grounding in a modern setting. Yes, the bearded terrorists living in caves is somewhat of a cliché, but at least Stark comes up against real(ish) adversaries - even the rooftop battle finale features a plausible enemy. Added to this is superb action, polished effects that are far less computer game-like than the trailer, and a script that mixes the standard comic book sound bites (“I just finally know...what I have to do...”) with some really funny writing.

Downey Jr. was born to play this part. As the ‘pre-Iron’ Stark, he’s a self-indulgent, unapologetic hedonist, and you can’t help but love him for it. Paltrow, to her credit, avoids stealing the show - she’s more a female Alfred the butler than, say, a Lois Lane. Director Jon Favreau does well not to use her in the now-boring damsel in distress role. Howard’s a great right hand man for Stark, and there’s a real onscreen chemistry between them as friends. Finally, a big surprise is Jeff Bridges as Obediah Stane. Brilliantly sinister, but because it’s Jeff Bridges it’s all the more unnerving.

Overall everything you could want from a superhero action movie. Sure, comic purists may whinge, but there’s very little here to pick at - the odd dodgy effect, the odd cheesy line, but to hold that against what is a really clever, polished, and even intelligent action movie is a pursuit reserved for only the pickiest of film fans. The rest of us will have a terrific time, in what is the first great blockbuster of the summer.