Tony Stark, the titular hero’s alter-ego, is a socialite who enjoys the drink and the womanizing so much that it seems to be more of a compulsory action than a voluntary one. How fitting that Robert Downey Jr. is the one to get tapped to bring the troubled superhero to the big screen, right? That jab was so easy that I almost feel bad for taking it. Almost.

Mr. Downey, Jr.’s troubled real life is what, I believe, makes him the only actor capable enough to fill the iron boots. He comes across as completely believable in his role as Tony Stark; so much so that the movie doesn’t have to rely on the intense action scenes to carry it like so many of Marvel’s latest films. Though I wouldn’t have minded seeing a movie with nothing but Iron Man flying around blowing things up.

The plot is fairly simplistic and easy to predict, but it’s forgivable considering the source material. The Marvel films seem to have struck a nice balance between high action, humor, and fan-service, but I feel Iron Man has stepped it up a notch. Even a passing knowledge of the Iron Man universe will yield plenty of references and little inside jokes. Though the hardcore Iron Man fans don’t have to worry, the film doesn’t take many liberties with the fiction.

After all is said and done, I can safely recommend Iron Man to anyone looking for a fun film that doesn’t strive to be taken seriously. The high-quality action, compelling acting, and funny-little-quip after funny-little-quip will send just about anyone out of the theater with a smile on his or her face. Just be sure to wait until the credits end. Trust me, you’ll enjoy the sequel hints.