While on a business trip to Afghanistan to demonstrate his latest weapons technology, the "Jericho missile" cluster bomb, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and his military escort is attacked and he is kidnapped by the terrorist group Ten Rings, who order him to build a Jericho missile for them.
Instead, he and fellow captive Dr. Yinsen (Shaun Toub) secretly build a crude but strong power armor fueled by a miniature "arc reactor", a smaller version of a power source previously invented by Stark. The arc reactor supplies energy to an electromagnet which prevents embedded shrapnel from reaching Stark's heart, which would kill him.
While using the power armor Stark defeats several terrorists, destroys their weapons stockpile, and escapes. Upon being picked up by the Air Force and returning to the United States, Stark declares that his company will no longer manufacture weapons.
His business partner and mentor, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), tells him that this move is blocked by the board members shortly after.
During a self-imposed sabbatical from public life, Stark tinkers with the design of his power suit, slimming it down and refining its flight capability. He also builds a more powerful and reliable mini-arc reactor to power both his pacemaker and the suit.
During his first public appearance since his announcement, he is shown pictures of Stark Industries weapons in the hands of terrorist groups, including the Jericho missiles he refused to build for them. Faced with the realization of what his company has done, Stark dons the power suit and flies to Afghanistan, rescuing Yinsen's village from the Ten Rings. In destroying their weapon stockpiles, he accidentally draws the attention of the United States Air Force and his friend and company military liaison, Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes (Terrence Howard), who handles USAF weapons development.
Determined to make amends for his mistakes, Stark sends his assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) to find the shipping records of Stark Industries, so he can track down the illicit shipments and destroy them. What she discovers forces an enemy out of the shadows to do battle with Iron Man.... putting everyone he cares about in danger.
Jon Favreau does a great job here bringing the story to life...balancing out the film with just the right amounts of action, drama and comedy.
I can't say enough positive things about Downey's performance....He IS Tony Stark...I know he likes doing those heavy dramatic films, but dare I say it, I believe that this may be his best role. I know that Favreau had to do some convincing to allow the studio to cast Downey but it certainly paid big dividends in the end. Downey's very public battles with his own demons allows him to understand Stark's own tortured pathos.
The screen just sparkles every time Downey is seen opposite Paltrow who walks a very fine line portraying Pepper as conceived in the 60's while at the same time making her a very modern woman with 21st century sensibilities....She's more than just the film's damsel in distress...
Downey also has solid chemistry with Howard, who as Rhodes, might have an even bigger part to play as the story arc progresses through a couple more films...
The one casting caveat is Bridges who seems an odd fit as the "father figure" especially since he telegraphs his characters true motive-almost from the first frame he appears...
The action and effects of the film are well integrated into the plot--Thankfully--never over-taking the narrative. The best of those sequences is by far Iron Man "Vs." the Air Force Jets...Wow!!!
Look for fun cameos from Lee, Favreau, playing Stark's trusted limo driver Hogan, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury (after the end credits) and Paul Bettany voicing Jarvis--Stark's supercomputer...
The movie is perfectly paced and sets up the universe very well. It's a must see even if your not a fan boy like me...You'll have a great time....I can't wait to see more!
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