On a visit to Afghanistan, arms dealer Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is kidnapped by terrorists who provide him with the means to create exceptional weapons for them; he reluctantly agrees to do so… 

Downey, Jr. is the greatest thing about this entertaining but unremarkable comic-book movie that started the Marvel Cinematic Universe; his laidback charm carries every scene that he’s in and gives the adventure a much-needed sense of humor.

Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow are unable to do much with their cardboard characters and there’s a tangible lack of truly eye-popping, edge-of-your-seat moments… but it’s still fun, with solid effects.

2008-U.S. 126 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Jon Favreau. Comic Book: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, Jack Kirby. Cast: Robert Downey, Jr (Tony Stark), Jeff Bridges (Obadiah Stane), Gwyneth Paltrow (Virginia “Pepper” Potts), Terrence Howard, Leslie Bibb, Shaun Toub… Jon Favreau. Voice of Paul Bettany. Cameos: Samuel L. Jackson, Stan Lee. 

Trivia: Nicolas Cage and Tom Cruise were reportedly considered for the part of Stark. Downey, Jr. also plays Tony Stark in The Incredible Hulk (2008). Followed by two sequels, starting with Iron Man 2 (2010), and The Avengers (2012), where Iron Man joined forces with Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and Thor.