I'll be the first to admit, I didnt want to see Iron Man. Despite the glowing reviews from critics, friends, and the neighbor's poodle, the trailers looked so cheesy. I'm not a huge Marvel/comic book/superhero movie fan either, so that didnt help. I was also wondering why some B movie actor like Robert Downey Jr got the role anyway? Well, I finally went to see it, and its quite a bit better than it looks in the trailers.

Robert Downey Jr plays Tony Stark, the obnoxious, billionaire, genius playboy, who runs Stark Industries, which mass produces various dangerous and delicious weapons, designed to "keep America safe". ("Stark Industries, committed to keeping the world safe, by blowing up small parts of it!"). Terrorists kidnap Stark and want him to build a version of his newest missile for them, and the story gets going from there.

Without spoiling anything, Robert Downey Jr is a pretty good fit for Stark. Underneath the playboy exterior, he's humorous, charming, and vulnerable. Jeff Bridges is also excellent as Stark's longtime co-CEO of Stark Industries, Obidiah. Gwyneth Paltrow is solid as Stark's personal assistant/awkward love interest Pepper Potts.

In the end, Iron Man succeeds, not because of an awesome story, but because of the strength and vulnerability of its protagonist. Its true potential lies in a sequel/sequels, where Iron Man is sure to fight bigger/badder villains, and prove that there's room, at least in the movies, for more than one, "Man of Steel".