Movie Review – Real Steel

Boys and their toys

Having known the outline of the story, I wasn’t much into the film as it looked like just a time pass movie. But with time one comes to know how difficult it is to make a proper time pass movie without boring even for a minute. ‘Real Steel’ is one such film. It’s a product of sincerity. Whatever you do, do good kind of film. Something studios and our directors have to learn while making commercial films.

‘Real Steel’ works on the fundamental level right from the casting to story. The story is basic but with an actor like Hugh Jackman, everyone looks up to a film. He charmingly associates himself with the character of the film and does wonders. I think this film would work more for 90s kids who got high on WWE and Centurions. Just think of Centurions going on for wrestling. Is there a greater sight than that?

The movie doesn’t mince with words or tries to be philosophical. In fact, the very idea of why the robots started to fight was uttered in a dialogue by Charlie (Hugh Jackman) to Max (Dakota Goyo). No lengthy Batmanish dialogue. No questioning the morality. No talks about machines overtaking humans. And thankfully no storyline with the machines getting brain of their own. That’s the most irritating thing out of the lot. Thankfully what’s called a formulaic story works best for a film which executes the formula in real life scenario the best.

It’s just an extension of your real world. Where video games come out with a huge toy. Thankfully it doesn’t develop a mind of own, kill its owners and end up having a human vs robot fight. It’s all plain and simple. Like how you’ll be invested in play station. You’ll be invested in playing in the ring here. It’s all good. The time period too was not too far when it got released so there is a certain make believe. The world has evolved only as much as not being shocked at seeing a giant robot on streets but with every other aspect it’s fine. The world goes on as usual.

Like Charlie says, people have got tired of normal boxing as there are less bloodsheds so the machines up the ante. That kind of works for us too. When we see two machines fighting, we can keep the morality aside and watch them engage in a dueling gruel. The hits are real and the gore is glamorous. The clanking of metals and the big monsters design and all come very handy. Satisfies the boy in you in a big way. Without going the jarring transformers way.

Hugh Jackman seemed to have mastered the art of dad and son/daughter films. He has kickass chemistry with younger ones. It’s the same here too. The emotions are taken straight out of library template so there is no surprise there. But it works like a charm. And the boy does a decent job too. There are no needless romantic scenes and tear jerkers but the movie is spiced up to the right amount where one goes emotional and bang goes the next scene. Keeping the formula intact, the movie delivers what’s necessary pitch perfectly.