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Movie Review: Lotta iron in 'Real Steel'
The film "Real Steel" now playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City is an action film starring Hugh Jackman as a down-and-out boxer past his prime as robots took over the boxing world.
In this case it's an attempt by films to muscle into the video game profits. Not that the movie is bad, that is, if the sight of giant robots flaying away at each other doesn't turn you off. It's actually technology not gone amok but just crass.
Charlie Eaton (Jackman) pits his robot Ambush against a black bull and loses, winding up owing $20,000 to the promoter. He skips. Charlie then finds out and old girlfriend of his has died and he has to attend a custody hearing about their son. There he meets his son's aunt Debra (Hope Davis) and her wealthy husband Marvin (James Rebhorn).
They make a deal about the boy Max (Dakota Goyo). He'll spending the summer with Charlie who gives up custody for $100,000 while Debra and Marvin go on a second honeymoon.
Charlie introduces Max to his robot supplier Bailey Tallet (Evangeline Lily), also girlfriend. Charlie buys a second-hand Japanese robot named Noisy Boy but loses it in a bout.
Charlie and Max go to a robot dump looking for spare parts and Max almost is killed in a landslide. But he discovers a buried robot named Atom and convinces Charlie to take him on. Problem is Atom is a sparring partner and not much on the offense.
After a string of victories Charlie is approached by Tak Mashido (Karl Yune) and a rich Russian woman named Farra Lemcova (Olga Fonda) in an attempt to buy Atom. Max convinces Charlie not to sell and instead fight Atom against their champ Zeus.
No need to tell you how it comes out but everybody ends up happy, Max and Charlie both mature and the future is bright.
Acting by Jackman is acceptably macho, Max is a child actor and let it go at that. Rest of cast is all pro. Robot boxing matches are violent, but since it's only robots no blood is spilled.
An acceptable fight-youth-growing-up movie, rated PG-13 for language and violence. Almost as good as "The Ides of March," also currently playing.
--- Sam Bauman
Directed by Shawn Levy
Produced by Shawn Levy
Susan Montford
Don Murphy
Screenplay by John Gatins
Story by Dan Gilroy
Jeremy Leven
Based on "Steel" by
Richard Matheson
Music by Danny Elfman
Studio DreamWorks Pictures
Reliance Entertainment
Running time 127 minutes
• Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton
• Dakota Goyo as Max Kenton
• Evangeline Lilly as Bailey Tallet
• Kevin Durand as Ricky
• Anthony Mackie as Finn
• Olga Fonda as Farra Lemcova
• Hope Davis as Debra
• Phil LaMarr as ESPN Boxing Commentator
• James Rebhorn as Marvin
• Karl Yune as Tak Mashido