Reviews!! (of Movies) | Real Steel (2011)

Directed by Shawn Levy
Written by John Gatins
Based on the short story "Steel" by Richard Matheson

Let me start it off with this: I wish I watched this movie in theatres, I probably would have cried. This film is pretty Hollywood, it's got the flare and flavour--but more surprisingly, especially to me, it's got some pretty solid substance to it.

The turns are expected and it's easy pickings on the critical side if you're a fan of being pulled completely off-guard. But hey, movie goers aren't hard-ass pretentious intelligencia so this film pushes all the right buttons for me. Wanna know why? More after the jump!

Real Steel got Hugh Jackman for $8 million, so that was a pretty big investment. In terms of his performance, it's pretty damn fine. Way better than Wolverine, probably better than most of his other roles. As an action star, he's competent, reliable, and delivers what audiences want: Hugh Jackman. He doesn't carry the film though, and I don't think he's supposed to -- the real stars are the little kid that some find annoying, but I find fucking endearing as hell what a champ, and the "little robot that could".

I'm a sucker for underdog stories. When the Kings won the Stanley Cup this year it was the only game I actually watched. Knocking out the bigger guy is probably the number one fantasy in a lot of kid's heads, and Hollywood's cashed in time and time again on the same formula for countless years, they've probably sucked the well of action, sports action, and sports drama dry with all the 'based on a true story' bullshit they pull every year. But this? It's Rocky with giant robots. It's a mech film.

C'mon, how is that not awesome?

Real Steel's about a down-and-out retired boxer who's submitted to the inevitable future of the sport--humans replaced with robots. But it's all the same tropes, the underground scene, rising to the top, getting past your inner conflict to muster up the courage to take on the big dogs head-to-head. Real "fuck yeah" stuff. And this film has gotten some no-no's because of it. Too bland, too predictable. Well hell, I got chills through most of it and I knew exactly when the act breaks were. Point is, this formula works--but it doesn't matter.

As it goes forward, Charlie, our lead, tries to make ends meet by scraping together small matches to pay back his debts, finds himself with shitty bots and shittier matches, and is at a loss until some men come up and say he's got a dead ex-girlfriend who's left him her son. And off we go. Dakota Goyo plays the kid, Max, who's headstrong, stubborn, and has his eyes on bot boxing just like his father. The kid's screen presence is one element that keeps this flick fresh and me smiling from ear-to-ear. Some people just hate kids ordering adults around, I love it. The whole shtick of irresponsible father-to-be needs a kick in the ass from the person he's supposed to take care of? Seen it before, but never seen it with fighting robots mixed in.

Don't need to explain to you the plot, you already know it. But that's okay, cause I got choked up at the parts where I was supposed to--where the script dictates the emotional connection is supposed to be clearest. And a good script does what it's supposed to, just like a good sparring bot. The writing's tight, easy, and flows scene into scene. And the exchanges between the kid and Charlie are surprisingly well put together. Another treat is having an actress like Evageline Lilly on your side to add some umph. Not only is she hot, but despite all the Lost haters, she can do "tough girl" damn well onscreen. She plays Bailey (masculine-sounding name deliberate), the foil to Charlie and on/off love-interest, the daughter of Charlie's boxing teacher, back in the day. If anything, a lovely face to look at, but she's got presence to her that convinces you to root for our heroes. Her character loves bots, especially Atom, the star of the show--and she convinced me I love him too.

Hugh Jackman and Dakota basically do a roadie movie, with their constant bickering to entertain, and some of it falls flat, but the gradual connection the two characters and castmates form as the screen-time runs is palpable. Expectable, but lovable. Throw in a humanistic looking bot with sad blue eyes to match the kids, it's a no-brainer. The scenes with the kid and the bot are way too cute. I definietely see some Iron Giant and Wall-E there, and those are not bad influences to steal from.

Those movies had a clear element: HEART. It's right there in the concept of a sentient robot. Since Wizard of Oz, the Tin Man's been looking for it. It's engrained in the collective narrative consciousness of everyone, which is why it picked at my heartstrings too. But they could have easily fucked it up with shallow characters, weak plotting, flimsy concept, and a number of things, but no:

• Strong screen presence from the leads; reliable supporting cast
• Solid, a bit formulaic writing. But it hits the beats it needs to
• Rocky + robots + father-and-son roadie = Great concept. Richard Matheson provides that sci-fi spark these creators needed to make a great, fun film. 

 Speaking of the robots, the special effects division for this film did an amazing job. Production design on this film is bombastic, with huge flare. It's extreme spectacle, the sense of wonder that has to capture the screen when the characters reach the "big show" need to hit home, and the visuals delivered. There was the soul of a sports drama in this sci-fi action movie, which is great. A great achievement to combine those two together so seamlessly.

The special effects with the robots, and providing real manufactured robots in static scenes, as per request of Exec Producer Steven Speilberg was a smart choice, it's always a good idea to act in front of something. The robot designs were fun as hell, each with their own style and personality -- the bi-pedal equivalent of the best street racing stories that feature decked-out cars and their drivers. Wikipedia tells me a 200-page bible was created just to develop how the fighting in the film works, with all the teach, gear, mechanics and whatnot. That's fucking awesome.

Pick this one up on Blu-Ray and spend the night with the family or a few friends to experience some damn fun action. It's easy sci-fi that's never too complicated or required of any thinking really, which we all need once in a while. It's a great movie to identify with, to feel something for, because the content's all there. Predictable? Yes. But if you expect a lot of fun, and a lot of heart, and some awesome visuals, then you're obviously getting what you came for. Gave me warm fuzzies all over.

A SIDENOTE 

All the films I've recently reviewed, save for Prometheus seem to be genre-blenders/debunkers/changers, which I think is something I'm going to pay more attention to. Discussing how and what exactly makes these movies blenders or changers in their field. Real Steel goes into some deep sports drama tropes to combine with his high-concept sci-fi, and Cabin In the Woods (did I review that? Can't remember) is an obvious genre-flipper in completely clearing the slate on what makes slasher/horror. 21 Jump Street is a film that surpassed all expectations and belongs in the category of "self-aware misunderstood gem", so maybe it gets the next chance in this review series? STAY TUNED!