Ever since the resounding success of the “Spiderman” and “X-men” films, it seems like Hollywood can’t go more than two or three months without spending millions of dollars releasing or re-releasing a film for a comic book that very few people actually read anymore. “Iron Man” is no exception.

Even the title sounds dated, since we now know that iron is not nearly as impenetrable a material as one would like to be wearing, if for example, you were being shot at by a tank. There is one thing “Iron Man” has that most of the other superhero films have lacked, however, and quite simply, that is Robert Downey Jr.

Lifestyle choices aside, the man has gained and even earned his place as one of the most interesting, and capable American actors of his time.

“Iron Man” seems to be a vehicle for Downey to indulge in all of the traits we as viewers have come to love seeing him have. The brash wit, staunch nonconformity, extreme narcissism, and dark edge of his persona shine in brilliant contrast to the lavish luxury and ease in which both he and Tony Stark (Iron Man) live.

All this creates a main character that the audience not only enjoys, but also believes in as he begins his journey towards becoming a hero. The audience watches Tony get abused by his would-be-assassins- turned-captors, but eventually make an exciting escape from their camp in a sort of makeshift Iron Man suit. Viewers will find themselves there with him, wanting him to succeed.

While the supporting cast loaded with big name Hollywood stars such Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow fit their roles well and keep the plot moving, Downey steals the show. In this sense, “Iron Man” is really one of the first true “superhero” movies. It delivers a character with a larger-than-life actor, as is deserved for such a larger-than-life role.

Tony is a much more of a human character than most superheroes. He is not the Reviewed by Dave Hamilton nerdy kid with glasses that stumbles upon something or awakens some latent magical ability to make himself more powerful. Tony is a middle-aged man, once thought a boy genius, full of narcissism and self-doubt at the same time. He is conflicted and confused, all he has to see him through it is an undeniable wit and an assortment of very exceptional gadgets.

This wit is the saving grace of “Iron Man.” It is what makes what could have been just a formulaic plot fun and exciting. Therefore, as much as it seems easy to knock Hollywood on its latest guaranteed jackpot banked off the glory from 1960s comic book stories, it’s simply not fair to discriminate what has obviously been a good investment just waiting to clear the courts for motion picture copyright control.

“Iron Man” is an enjoyable experience from beginning to end, and while you almost certainly will not walk out of the theater with any great new understandings of this world or one’s place in it, you almost certainly will not walk out. So sit back and enjoy the ride.