The massive popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, typically known as the MCU, feels like a no-brainer today. The long run of hits culminated with Avengers: Endgame becoming the all-time box-office leader. This success was far from guaranteed, however. When Iron Man premiered in 2008, Marvel hoped it would provide a springboard for more films. If this first installment had failed, we might never have seen the MCU.
During my Friday Night Movies series, I’ll look back at each movie from this franchise chronologically. A new piece of the puzzle will arrive every three weeks, and I’ll dive into what worked and what didn’t in the MCU. So many casting and story choices were brilliant, while others fell short. I’m excited to re-watch these movies; I haven’t caught some a second time. Those are the most interesting to me during this project.
Let’s begin with Iron Man, which is a bit rougher on the edges than the recent Marvel films. Jon Favreau had directed only three features (Made, Elf, and Zathura) when he took the reins. It’s clear he was ready for this key role, and his future work only supports that idea. Star Robert Downey Jr. was well-known, but he’d never led a major action film. His persona (and off-screen issues) made him perfect for Tony Stark. In the grounded world that Favreau creates, I can’t imagine anyone else playing this role. Let’s dive a lot further into the original MCU film!
Introducing the Universe
The familiar guitar sound of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” drops us into a military convoy in Afghanistan with soldiers protecting a civilian. Downey’s Tony Stark first appears with a drink in his hand while he chats with his three escorts. His shock that one is a woman immediately sets up Stark’s sexist persona; the question about him sleeping with all the Maxim cover models doesn’t help. He’s charming but seems a bit too confident, like he’s hiding serious insecurities and pain beneath the surface. Downey helps us recognize who this guy is immediately.
I love the way the music stops immediately when explosions rock their jeep. Tun and games are over, and Tony’s escorts are dead within seconds. The exposition in these early moments is brilliant; the action is brutal and quick, and Tony sees the Stark Industries on the weapon right before falling unconscious. In only four minutes, we’re already seeing Tony in captivity being videotaped by his captors. The Iron Man title card appears, and the story shifts back to fill in the blanks from the past 36 hours.
Another smart move is using the bio video to quickly do a major plot dump. We learn about the tragic death of Howard Stark, introduce Jeff Bridges as Obediah Stane, and then meet Terrence Howard’s James Rhodes after it plays. Even Tony skipping the award and leaving Stane to accept it furthers the main story. The most important part of the early scenes is how they make Tony’s world believable. This feels like a grounded version of our world, especially the one in 2008. The choice to connect the Marvel characters to reality is crucial to the films’ success.
The Merchant of Death
Iron Man doesn’t present Tony Stark as a good guy; he sells high-tech weapons of death and treats women poorly. I can’t entirely let Favreau and the writers off the hook, though. We’re supposed to think that Stark is cool; when he sleeps with Leslie Bibb’s Vanity Fair reporter Christine Everhart and discards her, it’s not good. Following their one-night stand, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) refers to Everhart as “taking out the trash”. It serves a purpose when Tony and Pepper get close later, but it still feels ugly.
Tony also tells Rhodes he was late for their trip because he was “doing a piece for Vanity Fair”. The line is designed for a laugh but isn’t a good look for the movie. The next scenes on the plane with Rhodes are funny because of Terrence Howard, but they also include flight attendants that are solely eye candy. An extended cut scene also makes their role even clearer in Tony’s life. It’s not good, yet I realize it sets up Tony for redemption. The lingering thought that makes me pause is that the film wants us to admire Tony. We find him charming even when he’s selling destructive weapons and joking about them.
During “The Jericho” presentation, the slow-motion shot of Tony with arms outstretched as explosions happen behind him is stunning. It makes him look cool! Everhart calls him the “Merchant of Death”, and that seems accurate with this shot. Tony calls it the weapon you only have to fire once, and that’s a scary thought. His captors call Tony the “most famous mass murderer in the history of America”. A grisly surgery, near-death experience, and torture by waterboarding start Tony down the path of redemption.
The Birth of Iron Man and the MCU
I’m spending a lot of time on the first act because it’s so important to this film and the MCU overall. This origin story creates the mold for many to follow, especially when introducing a new character. Tony is essentially reborn with his artificially powered heart and understanding of Stark Industries. His relationship with Yinsen (Shaun Toub), who ultimately sacrifices himself to help save Tony, humanizes the character. The message that Yinsen conveys to Tony of “don’t waste it” reinforces the newfound clarity for a lost soul.
The crude version of the suit that Tony creates mirrors the less polished nature of this movie. Tony is still figuring out the technology just like Marvel is finding its formula. Both examples bring vitality to Iron Man that’s sometimes missing in the MCU. Tony’s desperate moves to escape bring huge stakes; this isn’t CGI creations with super powers built on a computer. We’re inside that cave with Tony and want him to survive, despite the rough start. His ultimate crash in the desert reminds us that it’s still the first step. It’s also a funny way to end a big action sequence. Favreau makes sure one-liners and jokes are there even in big moments.
The guy that returns still has Tony’s charm, but the heft is missing. Stane can’t just manipulate him and run the show behind the scenes. The look on Jeff Bridges’ face when Tony returns and announces he’s shutting down the weapons reveals Stane as the obvious big bad. He also rides a Segway, so there is no redeeming value. Later on, Stane brings pizza and plays the piano like a Bond villain. Bridges has fun playing the obvious heavy; it is not a shock when his true colors appear.
Tony and Pepper
A key factor in the success of Iron Man is the on-screen chemistry between Downey and Paltrow. Their dialogue feels reminiscent of classic screwball comedies of the 1930s like His Girl Friday. Paltrow famously knows little about the MCU or what’s happening beyond her character, but she’s so relaxed as Pepper. The scene where she replaces Tony’s heart shows their trust and close relationship. Her gift of the original device with the note saying “proof that Tony Stark has a heart” is a cute moment and also ends up saving his life from Stane.
Their dance at the benefit and near-kiss would be awkward to watch in lesser hands. We’re rooting for them by that point, despite Tony’s behavior in the first act. Nothing happens directly between them in this movie, but it’s clear more exists beneath the surface. Tony trusts Pepper to gather the pivotal evidence from Stane’s office, and she calls Rhodes and connects with Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) to save Tony later. Pepper does fall a bit into the damsel in distress role at the end, but she also ultimately pushes the button to kill Stane.
The scenes between Tony and Pepper bring a lightness that’s needed for this story. The ease between the actors makes it fun just to hang out with these characters. They understand each other so well after years of working together. Pepper isn’t the typical romantic lead, and that is a relief in the male-dominated MCU. She also humanizes Stark and makes us care more about him as the story moves forward.
Becoming a Superhero
Iron Man really picks up steam in its middle act, which movies quickly but never feels rushed. The brisk 126-minute running time includes a lot of plot yet rarely drags. Tony’s ridiculous scenes of testing his suit draw some good laughs as he smashes into everything. Those moments also keep the progress from being too easy. When Tony finally takes the skies and saves the villagers, we are already 75 minutes into the movie. There is a required moment of the hero walking away from an explosion, but it clicks because he looks a little strange.
This action scene finally pays off all the testing and doesn’t over stay its welcome. After Tony survives a conflict with the military, the joke of Rhodes calling it a “training exercise” also lands perfectly. Terrance Howard wouldn’t return for Iron Man 2 (possibly due to contract, relationship, or off-screen issues), but his style fits with this film’s comedy. His “next time, baby” comment to the War Machine suit also sets up the sequel, but Don Cheadle would take over as Rhodes.
I should also mention Stane’s henchman Raza (Faran Tahir), who initially seems like he might be the lead villain. There’s only so much that Tahir can do with the one-note character. He serves mostly just a smokescreen for the ultimate reveal of who’s pulling the strings. When Stane grabs the suit and paralyses Raza before killing him, there’s no doubt about the big bad. This moment also sets up Stane’s attempt to kill Tony before the final battle, which nearly succeeds. It’s an ingenious way to avoid a confrontation and grab the power source for himself.
The Iron Monger
How does Stane prepare his Iron Monger suit so quickly? It’s a mystery but does keep the final act moving quickly. The final battle is one of the stranger climactic fights in the MCU. Stane becomes more of a typical bad guy instead of a white-collar crook and even tells Pepper “your services are no longer required”. The battle on the freeway between Tony and Stane includes a goofy moment where a family nearly becomes innocent victims nearby. The pacing of the fight is also a little off, but we have to remember it’s the first Marvel production.
Bridges has talked about the original plan to keep Stane around for a sequel, but that seems unnecessary. Iron Man feels more like a self-contained film especially before the post-credits scene. While Bridges is great, killing Stane brings more realistic consequences into the story. This isn’t a bloodless conflict with no deaths, and that feeling permeates the entire movie. Tony can also grab control of his future and proclaim “I Am Iron Man” to start a bold new era.
Connecting the First Pieces
Iron Man largely functions as its own film, but there are some elements that would connect Marvel’s Phase One films. An important part is the introduction of Coulson and the SHIELD acronym. Gregg has fun playing the agent, who’s a little smarmy and knows more than he reveals. He also appears at just the right time to help Pepper escape from Stane with the key information. Coulson mostly stays in the background until the end, but his group is watching everything. It’s a subtle way to set up how these events are part of a larger story. We also see the first of many Stan Lee cameos in a Hugh Hefner-live garb at the benefit party.
The post-credits scene reiterates that point with the reveal of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. The quick intro appears to let Tony (and us) know about “The Avenger Initiative” and the existence of other heroes. With sincere apologies to David Hasselhoff, Jackson is the perfect choice to play Fury because of his on-screen presence. This brief chat gets us excited about future movies. It’s a brilliant move to leave fans wanting more when we exit the theater.
The Iron Man Experience
It seems fitting that the first major Marvel attraction at a Disney theme park was the Iron Man Experience at Hong Kong Disneyland. Opening in January 2017, the simulator was added to Tomorrowland in the Stark Expo area. I haven’t been to Hong Kong, but I’m interested in seeing how that area fits within the overall theme of the land. Jon Favreau was inspired by the 1964 New York World’s Fair when they created the Stark Expo for Iron Man 2. Those connections make this ride’s placement in Tomorrowland fit better for me.
The attraction’s technology is similar to Star Tours: The Adventure continues with a motion simulator combining with visual effects. I’ve watched online ride videos, and I appreciate that you’re actually starting the attraction from Hong Kong Disneyland. It’s hard to really grasp how successful The Iron Man Experience while at home, but it looks like a fun experience at least. Marvel expansions are currently in the works around the world, including at Disney California Adventure, so I’m curious about how much Iron Man will play a role in those areas.
Rankings and Favorites
In the future, I’ll start ongoing rankings of the MCU films as I watch them. My hope with doing the lists this way is to avoid preconceived notions about the top choices. I’ll also put together ongoing lists of various other topics, including the villains, Stan Lee cameos, other characters, and more. It doesn’t make sense to just list Iron Man in the top spot for each one this time.
I’m also going to list my favorite moments in various categories within this movie. I’ll start with this small group and may drop in more as I think of them down the road. It’s just a fun way to identify some of the highlights of the MCU releases. I also hope you’ll join me with listing your own picks in the comments section. Here are my choices from this film:
- Scene: Pepper replaces Tony’s heart device with an updated version.
- Character: Tony Stark (obvious, I know)
- Shot: Iron Man slowly walks away from explosion during village fight.
- Action Scene: Tony saves the villagers and then is pursued by the Air Force.
- Surprise: The excellent pace and how much the story moves in the middle hour.
I Am Iron Man
Despite some unfortunate moments in the first act, Iron Man holds up very well 12 years later. The final choice to have Tony Stark reveal his identity to the world also helps sidestep an obvious crutch in superhero movies. It represents another way to bring the Marvel films more into the real world. Plus, it’s a super cool moment! The look on Downey’s face as Stark gives the final line is perfect. He knows this will turn the world upside down, and nothing will ever be the same. That’s true for this story along with the movie world right along with it.
I can definitely understand concerns with the MCU’s impact on blockbuster films and the movie world in general. Marvel and Disney have created a situation where everyone is trying to match them and create a shared universe. Does that leave space for original projects that don’t have the same draw? It’s a good question and one to ponder especially with a difficult future for the industry. I’ll keep thinking about this topic as I look at each movie. I’m excited to really dig into this rewatch and would love to hear your thoughts about the project.
Next Time on Friday Night Movies
I’m venturing into the wild cards next week and joining the Robinson family for the 1940 version of Swiss Family Robinson. It’s an odd one! My next MCU entry will be The Incredible Hulk with Edward Norton becoming the big green guy for a single appearance. Look for that article in three weeks, plus Pinocchio before that from Disney’s animated features.
What Do You Think About Iron Man? Do you have any suggestions for this project? Leave your comments below!
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