Let's face it; superhero origin stories in movies are boring. Fans just want to see the superhero in action, not how they became the superhero because the fans already know. However, that exposition is necessary in order to explain to the rest of the audience why this superhero can do the things they do and why they do them. Ostensibly that's supposed to help broaden the appeal of a given superhero so that more than just fans will come and see the movie. It's not an easy task, and there have been hits (Batman Begins) and misses (Fantastic Four) when trying to pull this off.

While not a masterpiece like Batman Begins, Iron Man at least avoids being cumbersome like Superman Returns or X-Men and isn't at all as bad as the Fantastic Four. In fact, Iron Man is the perfect movie to kick off the summer months at the box office because it is what summer movies are supposed to be: lots of flash with a little bit of substance to help us take them seriously, and plenty of fun.

I really didn't have much interest in Iron Man until I heard that Robert Downey, Jr. was attached to the project. If there is a man on the face of the planet who is the real life counterpart of Tony Stark, it is Robert Downey, Jr. As expected, he does a remarkable job with the role and truly makes it his own. He perfectly captures the glibness and the sincere heart of Tony Stark, and despite very little space to do so, makes the transition of a selfishly unaware Tony Stark to a somewhat more heroic and caring Tony Stark totally believable.

What I didn't expect was some excellent turns from the supporting cast. Jeff Bridges brings to life a wonderful villain in Iron Man, and I only wish that he had more screen time, especially toward the end of the film. There's a point where his character makes a dramatic shift rather abruptly, and I can't help but wonder what was left on the cutting room floor that would have fleshed out that transition more fully. Still, Bridges holds his own with Downey on the screen and is just as enjoyable to watch as the film's star. Gwyneth Paltrow also puts in a great performance as Tony Stark's long-suffering assistant Pepper Potts, and there's some wonderful chemistry between her and Downey that's a lot of fun on screen.

The story is briskly paced with some nice action set pieces, but as I've already said there are times when the pace seems almost too brisk. Certainly there were some dramatic moments that would have had more impact given more room to breathe, but this is a comic book movie and a summer blockbuster to boot, so it keeps things movingly quickly and smoothly. I was especially glad that Jon Favreau was able to capture the essence of Tony Stark's rougher edges without being too explicit. We clearly understand that Stark is not a man of high moral character, has a way with women and a problem with alcohol, but these elements are handled in a fairly tame fashion. Still, parents should be aware that sex and booze are apart of Tony Stark's persona and they do find their way into the film. While not explicit, it ain't Disney either.

The toughest part with an Iron Man story is to explain why someone like Tony Stark would start sticking up for the little guy. Downey does a great job of helping us believe that his time in captivity, witnessing the death that his own weapons cause, could be the catalyst for that change. When someone who helps him tells him not to waste his life, we see the spark of purpose and meaning in Tony's eyes.

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