Movie Review: Iron Man starring Robert Downey, Jr. 

Halle-freakin'-lujah! The summer of slick action flicks has finally begun. 

Nobody does 'cool' the way that Robert Downey, Jr. does. From scene one of his fantastic new action superhero movie Iron Man, you are swept up in the story, easily believing that he is his character: an uber-cool, ultra-intelligent, sexy powerhouse of a man (likely not that different from Downey himself).

In the film's title role, Downey plays Tony Stark, a multi-billionaire hotshot, robotics engineering whiz, and co-owner of his family's weapons manufacturing business. He is a man's man: that guy that all guys want to be, and that all women want to be with. He is a man who is equally feared and admired... epitomizing the scotch swilling, mojo swinging king of cool.

Yet no sooner does the film's introductory sequence get under way than Tony gets knocked off his high horse - in a major way. While traveling in Afghanistan to promote his latest line of weapons, his caravan is bombed and he is taken hostage. His captors want him to build them a weapon to use against the country he so loves and wants to protect. He refuses, then pretends to give in as he uses the supplies they provide to build hatch an escape plan. Instead of a bomb, he builds himself a computerized bulletproof 'iron' suit that is tough enough to essentially allow him to shoot, flamethrow - and even fly - his way through the terrorist village and escape certain death. On the way out, he notices something quite disturbing: that these terrorists managed to somehow get their hands on some of his company's weapons.

Three months later, when Tony manages to make it back home, he experiences a reawakening of the soul. Much to the chagrin of his business partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), best friend Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard), and doting personal assistant Pepper Potts (the luminous Gwyneth Paltrow), Tony decides to stop manufacturing weapons and instead focuses on perfecting his "Iron Man" design. Determined to stop evil once and for all, this is where the action in the flick starts to get good, as he builds, tests, and utilizes his kick-ass design in an effort to help rebuild U.S. military war efforts.

Smart, sassy, and oh-so-sexy, Iron Man - the latest in a line of movies based off of Marvel comic series - kicks off what is bound to be an exceptional summer of action flicks. Downey couldn't have been better - many times being the sole reason why my eyes were glued to the scene. Such a role for him has been a long-time coming - and he certainly doesn't squander this opportunity to turn his career around in a major way.

The movie is funny, entertaining, and sleek, while also managing to have a somewhat interesting story and a splash of heart as well (Stark's relationship with his close personal assistant Pepper Potts is particularly charming). Particularly engaging are the scenes that simply include Tony and his robotic lab assistant, an inanimate character that holds its own throughout the film as a comedic nod to younger viewers.

If there was any issue I had with the film at all, it was that I wanted more action from Iron Man himself; only once did we see him going out and kicking some ass - which made the movie feel a bit like the first in a three-part franchise, setting up the story for more action to come. And, I must say that Paltrow's talent was a bit squandered; I would have liked to see her step up to the plate a bit more, rather than simply play the standard Marvel damsel in distress.

But the set-up and execution of what is bound to be just the first in a new Marvel film franchise is a good one: fun, entertaining, and splashy. The best part? The ending leaves it wide open for a sequel.

• The Daily Dawdler Rating: A-

• Paramount Pictures, Rated PG-13. Tickets available online at Fandango.com. Official site: www.ironmanmovie.marvel.com.

• Watch the Trailer: