IRON MAN

Version: Paramount 2008 DVD

I will start this review with clear evidence that this film is for women:

Choice of Actor: Now, I'm only in my twenties, but even I think Robert Downey Jr. is hot. Even when he's not showing off (see next point), his lightweight wardrobe is the male version of a wet t-shirt contest. Pecs ahoy.

Character Design: The guy spends a big chunk of the film in some state of shirtlessness. That is fanservice for us. Besides, any plot that is centered around a hot guy showing off a bare chest has GOT to be aimed for women (or at least designed to lure us in).

Promiscuity: Face it, Tony bangs everything that walks to make women jealous. And they do get jealous.

Family: The whole "you're all I've got" deal is clearly a women's interest. Men don't really care about this stuff when the are filthy rich. Worrying about your family or being alone is right up there on our list (especially the alone part).

Emotional Guy: There a couple scenes where Tony is a dead kitten away from full blown crying. Men usually don't want to acknowledge that they are sensitive, so this kind of thing on the silver screen is there to keep the ladies going.

Damsel in Distress: There's also a bit of the damsel in distress trope here towards the end. That's something you find in little girls' faerie tales. Pepper just happens to be a strong enough women that the gals aren't turned away by the trope. And of course we all want a hot guy to come save us (even if we think it's stereotypical).

Now for the rest of the review. The pacing of the film is a little odd at first, then gets kooky when you realize how Tony is working. One scene that bugs me: Pepper brings Tony his "gift" (the chekhov's gun) and a coffee. We then see Tony experiment with his flying. What I presume to be hours later, Tony sits down and drinks the STEAMING coffee. WTF? Did Pepper superheat that thing?

I have no other major nitpicks. Stane has some cheesy dialogue at the end ("I'm really enjoying the suit" has the weirdest delivery of any line in the film), Audi placement is a little obvious, and Tony is a punching bag in the final scene, but these are easily overlooked.

I can't wait for the sequel, even though I don't know the comics very well. Go buy this and watch it over and over. ;)