"Iron Man" | www.thecamarilloacorn.com

Just when I wondered if there could be any thrills left in regurgitating yesteryear's Marvel Comic Book heroes onto the silver screen, along comes the remarkable "Iron Man," a 40year-old, lesser-known pulp hero whose only talent might seem to be sweating profusely inside a bulletproof metal suit.

I mean, really- how many kids run around pretending to be Iron Man? Far fewer, I presume, than Superman, Batman, SpiderMan and all those other largerthanlife Mans. Let's face it, being encased in iron is far less exciting than possessing Xray vision or owning the Batmobile. Even the name is far less intoxicating than those other monikers. One might have assumed Iron Man to be one antiquated superhero bound for obscurity.

Not anymore.

A couple of delightful factors combine to make "Iron Man" probably the best superhero adventure to date, and this from a guy who once believed Christopher Reeve's original "Superman" (1976) to be the Holy Grail of comic book hero worship. To wit:

One: This isn't your typical superhero story. It's about Tony Stark, a cynical, billionaire industrialist, an aloof weapons merchant who enjoys hot women, fast cars and a slightly better than average Malibu home. However, during a Mideast sales presentation, Tony is severely injured and captured by terrorists. They demand that he build them a new superweapon. Instead, he concocts a bulletproof iron suit to escape.

Two: Robert Downey Jr.

Superman's Clark Kent is mild-mannered to a fault. Batman's Bruce Wayne is pristine, almost prissy, outside the cape. Spider-Man's Peter Parker is unsparingly self-effacing. And name me an X-Man who doesn't need years of therapy.

Finally we have an alter ego who's cocky and petulant, quickwitted and unapologetic- a remarkably, deliciously flawed human. We may dislike Tony Stark when the film opens, but when he pulls us over to his side- man, we're hooked.

Something else too. "Iron Man" is cutting-edge PC. When a couple of likable U.S. soldiers are gunned down trying to save Tony in a rebel attack, he's aghast to witness, firsthand, the results of his life's work. Finding a stockpile of Stark Industries' weapons in the hands of the enemy (and aren't today's friends usually tomorrow's enemies?) changes his life. When Stark builds his metal suit, it's not merely to escape the hands of the rebels- it's to repent for all of his (our?) past indiscretions.

In a sense, Tony Stark is born again. And Downey makes born again seem utterly cool.

Suddenly we're not just pretending to be the good guys, we are the good guys. He may not be Captain America, but put Iron Man on the ballot next year and he might win.

Gwyneth Paltrow plays Tony's demure personal assistant Pepper Potts, and Terrence Howard plays Maj. James Rhodes, Stark's military attaché. Jeff Bridges is Obadiah Stane, Tony's business partner. Yet somehow this film belongs completely to Downey. Inside the suit and out, Downey as "Iron Man" takes few risks that aren't ultimately rewarding. Maybe Downey, the actor, and "Iron Man," the character, have something in common. Maybe that's part of the allure. Art imitating life.

If there's anything wrong with "Iron Man," it's that, after all of director Jon Favreau's tricks are so nicely played out, we're left with the obligatory, fistheavy superhero battle pitting good vs. evil. Some things one has to expect in a superhero movie, so I shouldn't be surprised. Still, since "Iron Man" breaks so many previous boundaries, I guess I expected something a little more extraordinary.

Still, all in all, there's barely a cheap moment to be found (and the film's last scene is priceless). For those of us who are suddenly "Iron Man" junkies, Robert Downey Jr. and crew are slated for two more Tony Stark adventures. I will expect no less from either joyride.

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