'Real Steel' is the Real Deal

When most people think of the term “robot movie,” they probably conjure up images of high-octane explosions, shiny and sleek CGI, and a thinly spread, if present at all, storyline. If the last two Transformers movies have taught us anything, it’s to expect nothing more from a movie starring robots than a bunch of big budget action sequences, and a hot girl waving her hair around wildly.

So now think how the general movie-going public felt when a movie, not only about robots, but also about the world of robot boxing was announced. If you said “not very hopeful that it would be a quality film,” you would be correct. Now, just for a second, imagine how that same movie-going public would have felt when they heard that it was being directed by Montreal native Shawn Levy; the same guy who directed Night At The Museum. Yes, this particular movie about robot boxing was being directed by the same guy who made a film which primarily featured Ben Stiller fighting with a monkey for it’s duration. Hopes are quickly fading, right? Am I making you want to see this film yet?

Well now comes the part where I tell you that this particular robot boxing movie directed by the guy who gave into Ben Stiller’s animal fighting habit for like the tenth time in Night At The Museum, actually directed a quality movie. Yes, Real Steel is a good film.

The film takes place in the year 2020, and is set against the backdrop of a recognizable suburban America. Real Steel follows the story of Charlie Kenton, played by Hugh Jackman, and his estranged son Max, played by Torontonian child-actor Dakota Goyo. The two compete in the world of robot boxing, which may sound absurd, but is actually highly entertaining and pretty believable in the completed film.

There are a few things that set apart Real Steel from any lesser robot movie, and several things that must be credited towards Shawn Levy’s direction. Firstly, the movie looks and feels beautiful. While Transformers focused on glossy and expensive computer generated effects, Real Steel is set in a familiar yet futuristic world. Levy grounds the film in a gritty environment that would seem almost nostalgic if it weren’t for the high-tech gadgets that fill it. The setting and scenery looks amazing, and the futuristic world is a fully fleshed out place, with a painstaking amount of detail brought into it. Locations like a Southern county fair and the underground back-alley boxing locations really look great throughout the film and help maintain a level of believability to what may have been an otherwise ridiculous concept. Generally, movies set in the future, especially one with the word “steel” in the title, are cold and sterile, yet Real Steel manages to evoke a warm feeling that adds another layer to the film and speaks more towards Levy’s competence and understanding of the material.

Also adding weight to the movie is an actual plot. Focusing equally on the robot boxing and the human drama central to the story, Levy manages to create an emotional relationship between father and son that doesn’t get cut short or give up on screen time half-way through. The characters are well developed and not simply mindless…umm…robots. Instead of building characters and drama around the concept of exciting fight sequences, Real Steel shatters expectations by creating the boxing and action around a worthwhile story and characters. The work done here by the actors, including Jackman and Goyo, is very good, and never drives the audience insane with the same bad acting turned in by the likes of several to be unnamed Transformers stars over the series.

Of course, despite all of this, many people will still go to the film wanting to see some hardcore robot boxing. The good news is Real Steel has this and then some. Robot fight sequences are often confusing and hard to follow, because, let’s face it, metal fighting metal all looks the same. However, in this movie every single fight sequence stands out above other movies, and time after time each fight manages to look better on film than the previous one. Eventually, as ludicrous as it sounds, you may begin to care for the robot character, Atom, and find yourself feeling like you’re in the ring with him. There are good amounts of tension and drama in these scenes, and they really give you your money’s worth. By the final fight in the movie, you will feel like you are at ringside with the robots and you’ll love every second of it.

Perhaps the best thing about Real Steel, is that it almost fits every demographic of moviegoer. If you are looking for a movie to go to with your family and want a fun and not completely brain melting experience, Real Steel is a good choice. If you are in your teens to late twenties, and just want to see some good robot smashing, go see this movie, and close your eyes at the sentimental father-son stuff you’ll undoubtedly hate. And, if you’re a thirty-something woman who wants to see something good on a night out with the girls...well, maybe don’t see this movie. I hear Human Centipede 2 is good though.