Send in the clones.
Although we've got the first cinematic incarnation of "Iron Man" kicking off the "summer" movie season (your calendar is correct -- it's Hollywood that screws things up), the copycats will soon be arriving in droves. Coming 'round the corner are more from Indiana Jones, The Incredible Hulk, Batman and Hellboy.
"Iron Man" is like a screwball comedy on steroids. Thanks to the flippant delivery and jaundiced words of Robert Downey Jr. (I'm thinking there was much ad-libbing going on), the film is a lot of fun and really only falters when it gets heavily into the special effects part of the program.
It truly is delicious watching Downey, as arms merchant Tony Stark, act like a cross between James Bond and Noel Coward. Along for the ride are Gwyneth Paltrow as Stark's assistant and potential love interest Pepper Potts, Terrence Howard as Stark's military buddy Jim Rhodes, and Jeff Bridges as Stark's partner-in-arms and eventual adversary Obadiah Stane, aka Iron Monger. You have noticed how Stark-centric this Marvel comic book movie is, right?
Arrogant and sarcastic doesn't begin to describe Stark -- but what's wrong with having a good time showing off his high-tech weaponry to the American military in Afghanistan? He's giddy and self-assured. Well, at least that's how he sees it.
Soon Stark will be kidnapped by villainous locals, be forced to create a suit of armor to protect himself, and have second thoughts about militarism (uh oh -- Hollywood message alert).
The good news here is that nothing that goes on seems to be taken seriously by anyone. Much of the film is played with a fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek style that would have delighted William Powell and Myrna Loy. Perhaps needless to write, not everybody agrees with Stark/Iron Man's adventures as a bad-guy-fighting Transformer-lite and his rejection of big bucks and bigger-bang weaponry. Obadiah is definitely not pleased and the U.S. Air Force is compelled to engage Iron Man in a well-crafted chase sequence that revels in manic mayhem.
The smartly acted movie is nicely directed by Jon Favreau. It's written by a combination of teams and clearly ends with typical sequelitis sensibilities. I'm not sure what else Downey can do with his character in a future film (or films), but if there can be six "Thin Man" features, then I see no reason why there can't be sequels to "Iron Man." Keep the martinis and bring in a little more Art Deco, but just don't turn him into a robotic Matt Helm.
"The Visitor" is one of the best movies I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of movies. I want you to be as pleasantly surprised and emotionally touched as I was while watching this simple, yet complex examination of a lonely man who finds friendship after the unlikeliest of encounters. Therefore, I'll only give you the basics.
The brilliant Richard Jenkins (polish the Oscar for next year -- he could win it) plays a 50-something Connecticut college professor who's drifting through life. Mundane doesn't begin to describe his existence. He's a widower with little that interests him, not even his Economics teaching duties. He'd like to learn to play the piano, but other than that, there's not much that's cheery about him or his day-to-day tasks. His house is too big. The piano in it is too much a memory of his late wife.
He goes to New York City, where he has a small apartment, for a conference. When he enters his place in Manhattan, he discovers a woman from Senegal and a man from Syria living in it. She makes jewelry and sells it at an arts-and-crafts market, and he is a hand drummer for local jazz bands. Both of the sweet young strangers are illegal immigrants. This unlikely trio develops a heartbreaking bond, especially when they are tossed into a Catch-22 trap of post-9/11 America.
"The Visitor" is written and directed by Tom McCarthy, whose first film was the fantastic "The Station Agent." He also acts, and you'd remember him most from "Meet The Parents," as the guy about to be married to Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner's daughter. McCarthy has a knack for telling quiet tales in which wonderful characters build relationships and experience revelations -- two things rarely seen in movies but always appreciated. In this film, they are magical and memorable.
"Made Of Honor" has a title that's meant to be cute, but it's essentially pointless. Here's another romantic comedy without much romance or comedy.
In this one, Patrick Dempsey -- definitely overstaying his 15 minutes of fame -- stars as a lucky and wealthy guy 10 years out of college, which is absurd because Dempsey looks at least a decade older. He plays the field when it comes to women, but even though he's got the looks and cash to marry anyone, he prefers an college gal pal (Michelle Monaghan) as the one female constant in his life.
Things are fine until she heads to Scotland on a business trip and announces that she's going to marry a local chap and wants Dempsey to be her maid of honor. You read that right.
Anyway, although he's only her best friend -- not lover -- he gets jealous and heads to the land of lochs and kilts hoping to stop the wedding and express his devotion to his platonic lady.
If this sounds a lot like "My Best Friend's Wedding" with Julia Roberts and Rupert Everett, it is, but it's not as good. The poorly written and weakly directed movie meanders along without much energy or entertainment, perking to life only when Sydney Pollack as Dempsey's father pops up on screen.
"Planet B-Boy" is a documentary about break-dancing that explores the hip hop culture and the dance craze that has truly swept the world. The movie, directed by Benson Lee, follows top break-dancing teams in the USA, eventually concentrating on the "Battle of the Year" competition in Braunschweig, Germany, at which Americans are expected to do their best. Lee offers a breezy, yet engaging look at the history of hip hop, but knows that for audiences to care about his movie, they have to care about the people involved. Look for some very personal, sometimes fascinating, often unique stories about young men from around the globe eager to grab the title.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | May 6 2008 |