
Iron Man
By James Rocchi,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
First MCU adventure has violence, Islamophobia.

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Iron Man
Community Reviews
Based on 85 parent reviews
Good movie but kids are the wrong demographic, take PG-13 rating seriously and don't listen to marketing that implies otherwise
Iron Man is great!!!!
What's the Story?
IRON MAN begins as brilliant billionaire industrialist/inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is abducted during a weapons demonstration tour in Afghanistan. Grievously wounded by the very weapons his company manufactures, Tony is forced by his captors to build a missile; instead, he designs a high-tech suit of armor to make his escape. Returning to America, he wonders how his company's products fell into the wrong hands and vows to set things right with the help of a rebuilt, stylish new iteration of the powered exoskeleton that makes him Iron Man.
Is It Any Good?
Director Jon Favreau keeps the film light and bright; special effects are impressively crafted, and the setup for the next film is handled gently and well. Iron Man knows that it's a comic book movie; not only does it have all the plot points and moral messages that we're used to from Spider-Man, Batman Begins, and others in the genre, but it also subtly mocks and twists them. The plot touches all the bases of the traditional "origin story" (how our hero becomes a superhero, his first outing with his new powers, etc.), showing plenty of hustle and style as it does so. However, offensive stereotypes of Afghans as terrorists and some disturbing violence make aspects of the story hard to watch.
But if there's any one thing that makes Iron Man more than just a run-of-the-mill superhero film, it's Downey Jr. His work here is funny, human, heroic, and completely engaging, capturing the brisk, breezy laugh lines, the adrenaline-fueled action, and the moments of bold purpose that every superhero has to have as they start out. He gives both Tony and Iron Man a little swagger and coolness -- something that would go on to become a calling card of the MCU style, in contrast to the stiffer, straight-laced heroes that came before him.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of comic book movies like Iron Man. Do they speak to escapism or darker fantasies about power?
How does the fact that much of the movie's violence is based in fantasy affect its impact? How is it different watching human characters get hurt than robots and other beings?
Iron Man may work toward doing good, but he's no Boy Scout. Can heroic characters still be flawed? Does that make them more heroic, or less?
How does Tony Stark demonstrate curiosity and courage in Iron Man? Why are these important character strengths?
Discuss the portrayal of terrorists and how the film plays into stereotypes. Can you think of other examples of Islamophobic representations in films?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 2, 2008
- On DVD or streaming: September 30, 2008
- Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow , Jeff Bridges , Robert Downey Jr.
- Director: Jon Favreau
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Paramount Pictures
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Superheroes
- Character Strengths: Courage , Curiosity
- Run time: 125 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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