Parents' Guide to Iron Man

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.