ironman1.jpgI am not a superhero fan. In fact, I usually shy away from the Marvel Comics franchise like Superman ’shies away’ from cryptonite. The casting of Robert Downey, Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, however, piqued my interest enough to check out the new blockbuster. What a spectacular gamble! I’ve always enjoyed the scenes that showcase the hero’s evolution. The mortals are submersed in a situation in which their moral fiber is tested and the result is always the same - a superhero is born. The first third of Iron Man is just that, and I was enthralled from that point on. I have trashed Downey, Jr. in the past, but I can’t imagine anyone else delivering Tony Stark’s smart-ass lines like he did. Somehow, I was even attracted to him. Hm. Paltrow did a great job, even though I wasn’t happy with her choice in taking this role. I imagine her as Lady Wessex in Shakespeare in Love forever! Another one of my favorites, Jeff Bridges, was the villain of Iron Man. Unfortunately, I guessed he was the villain right away even though he was supposed to be Tony Stark’s mentor and friend. Overall, I was totally into this movie. It was funny and action-packed and endearing at the same time. I give it an A.