Real Steel
Now here's a bit of a conundrum. Was Real Steel really that good? Or did it just appear to be that good because I expected it to suck and it turned out it didn't? I guess it really doesn't matter. All that really matters is that against all odds (and we're talking months of expecting not to like it) for whatever reason, I actually enjoyed the movie.
This isn't to say it was a spectacular example of film making. I don't think it was. But it was entertaining. And it only really dove into the treacly, almost sickly sweet overtones at the very end of the movie. By that time, I had pretty well bought into the film enough that it really didn't bother me as much as it otherwise would have. (I just kind of hate when they overdo it on the sentimental stuff). I think the biggest reason for my apprehension about the movie was that the trailer played it up in such as way that I was certain it would be a saccharine serving of movie fluff. With robots kicking the shit out of each other, but still, overwhelmed by the father-son angle. And it really wasn't. I'm still not sure how this is possible. All the traps were lying in wait... all it had to do was stumble into them.
I suppose a large part of the reason why it stayed as entertaining as it did was due to Hugh Jackman. He plays, Charlie Keaton, a pseudo-deadbeat, washed up boxer who's knee deep in gambling issues due to his participation as a "trainer" of robot boxers. He always bets on his machines, but doesn't really seem to know how to use them. Jackman actually plays Charlie as a frustrating but ultimately likable character. Not so much a piece of garbage but a perpetually unlucky every dude. Not an overly touchy-feely sort either...except when he's around his childhood friend/budding love interest, Bailey (played by a borderline too eager Evangeline Lilly). Jackman's Charlie, in other words, isn't going to be one to go to pieces just because his estranged 11-year-old son (kid actor Dakota Goyo- surprisingly good... or at least not annoying. I know I'm hard on kid actors. It's not their fault. Studios just always seem to go for a look rather than talent. Here, Goyo is the perfect blend of toughness, the right look, and talent) lands squarely in his lap...that is... until he does develop a soft spot for the kid. And develop the soft spot does... just not as naturally or evenly paced as you'd hope. The point is, Charlie and Max (that'd be his son) don't lunge straight for the heart strings, no they lunge straight for the controls of their robot boxing buddies. In the end, it's actually the hapless looking, outdated, but tough robot boxing contender, Atom, that breaks through to sentimentality.
And... somehow... it all works. Well... it works well enough to be a good show. Entertaining. There is a good deal of ridiculousness, but it all seems ok somehow. As I hinted, the development of Charlie from a lone wolf to sort of willing pop is a bit rushed and jumpy but they made an effort. I suppose the real appeal here is you get to watch some- again- surprisingly good looking robots knock the hell out of each other. It's actually a lot of fun. "Real-life" Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. And that's another thing, the robots- as opposed to that certain threequel featuring robot aliens- looked pretty damn real. They looked conceivable. They, for the most part, didn't exist on too grand a scale, and they're movements seemed fluid and natural. And the rattle of the battles- as I believe it was Roger Ebert pointed out- sounded real. It sounded like... sigh... yes... real steel colliding. Ok, maybe I'm being too hard on Transformers...though I'm not sure that's possible. But any robots on such a large scale are doomed to look kind of ridiculously fake. These were at best 9-10 foot tall machines. They didn't transform, they just brawled. It was fun to see. (As opposed to Transformers's often brain-melting whirl and spasm of robot battles). There were parts where either Charlie or Max interacted with the 'bots and I'll be damned if it didn't seem like those robots were actually right there with them. No green screen, no CGI. It was kind of cool.
In the end it all made for a nice, enjoyable film. Yes, I could have done without all the blatant sentimentality... all the obvious heart string pulls. But still, it didn't ruin the movie. But then, it'd be hard to ruin a movie with all that awesome robot fighting, right?
Well... for me it would. (Easy enough to please aren't I?)
Grade: B+
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