Its hard to believe that nearly six years after blasting off into box-office nirvana with the original Spiderman that comic book powerhouse Marvel would pluck from their garden of available heroes an eccentric, recovering alcoholic arms dealer to debut their first wholly self-financed film. Relatively free from much of the very studio interference that kept the project grounded for nearly two decades, Iron Man is state-of-the-art entertainment, one chock-full of all the blistering special effects, action, and humor you'd expect from any summer spectacular, but never at the audience's expense. Best to settle in now, because the summer season's just getting started!

One part Robocop (minus the gore) and two-parts Rocketeer (minus the bad movie), Marvel's Iron Man as directed by Jon Favreu (Elf, Zathura) isn't your typical superhero origin tale. Thankfully it never even tries to be as the origins of the brilliant, yet deeply flawed engineering maestro Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) are updated into modern times, with war-torn Afghanistan substituting for the original's Vietnam. Although snippets of political activism creep into the wonderfully breezy script (by Children of Men scribes Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby), Iron Man is much more concerned with establishing its hero among the world of heroic metal than making statements, which in this election cycle is a breath of fresh air. It's also incredibly funny and terrifically sweet, easily joining the ranks of the Spiderman trilogy and the original Superman (I & II) adventures. Big words to be sure, but ones easily backed up.

The title character's relative absence in the pop psyche at large works in his favor, as Favreu and Crew are for the most part free from the gargantuan expectations that nearly consumed the recent cinematic adventures of comic book royalty Superman and The Hulk (whose next film will be Marvel's second film, as it happen). This truly helps make Iron Man a less haughty affair, as though with less expectations come less responsibility. Thankfully that's not the case, as this world is filled with more references to the source material (albeit in subtle ways) to satisfy slaves of canon, yet manages to forge its own identity that's wildly entertaining. Its wonderful to see the first part of a new series that doesn't require a sequel to justify itself.

Much as been made of casting veteran Robert Downey, Jr. as the hard-partying, brilliant Tony Stark lead but enough of that; the gamble has paid off. In spades. It's here that Downey Jr. is a revelation, practically carrying the film on his able shoulders and securing in the process many years of gainful employment - as long as they're spent donning a crimson/gold suit of iron. Much as fellow late-bloomer Johnny Depp was able to achieve with his inspired pirate antics, Downey's portrayal not only centers the film, he overwhelms the senses in one of the most natural, charismatic performances in comic book translation history. As much fun as the rest of the affair is, whenever he steps off-camera Iron Man threatens to become Iron Bland fairly quickly. Given the actor's dodgy personal history it might be tempting to say this is type-casting personified, but it could be that Downey Jr. is just that good.

Accolades for Downey's performance aside, the rest of the film is populated with more traditionally palatable, commercial-friendly faces of the critically acclaimed variety. Read - safe. But that's not a slight whatsoever, as any movie with the likes of Jeff Bridges and Terrance Howard is immediately better for having them, and here they acquit themselves admirably in their respective (and franchise-defining) roles. Bridges particularly is remarkably vicious as Stark Enterprises and Stark business partner Obadiah Stone. With his shaved cranium and Anti-Santa beard he's by far the scariest thing onscreen as all traces of his lovable Dude persona disappear behind the metallic curtain of his Iron Monger. Howard offers a typically great performance as Stark best-buddy and general voice-of-reason James Rhodes. Those disappointed that his character's ultimate destiny is only hinted here need only wait for the inevitable sequel(s) to see his fully realized War Machine in action. Next time, baby!

I can't say that I was that impressed with Gwyneth Paltrow's take on Pepper Potts, as this admittedly good actress again attempts to slum it up (after the disappointing Sky Captain) in the type of role she's tried her best to avoid throughout her post-Hook career. One moment she's tough-as-nails, the next its ditzy city...one can only wonder whether she's reading from the same script as everyone else. The film's single casting mistake, I personally would have preferred an actress a bit more congenial and apt for this type of role...but that's just me. Oh yeah, Stan Lee makes his requisite cameo in perhaps the best spot yet. How awesome is this guy?

The film's stunning effects, blending live-action and rubbery models with fancy CG work, are themselves a wonder. Stan Winston and ILM Studios (the wizards behind Jurassic Park) pull double-duty here, and I swear you'll have trouble picking out the real from the make-believe. Superhero blockbusters have become so over-stuffed with effects and spectacle lately we may as well be watching animated films, but Iron Man gets it right and the results are considerable. Iron Man's later battle with Iron Monger was a stark (no pun intended) reminder that battles between piles of raging metal can indeed be discernable, and not the stuff better regulated to the scrap heaps of bad design.

Iron Man is that rare summer vehicle that not only stays true to its admittedly convoluted comic origins (40+ years of back-story can do that to anyone), but manages to feel fresh and ready to entertain the masses. And entertain it will, as we'll no doubt be seeing the continuing adventures of Tony Stark and Company for some time to come (a trilogy is already planned), not that anyone will mind spending more time with this crew. Robert Downey Jr. redeems a career that, while excellent, has never truly justified his considerable talent and presence as he does here, cinematically reintroducing himself in such a way we can only hope will be permanent this time around. Just remember to stay until the very last credit has rolled for an especially exciting surprise that further blends the converging worlds of film and comic book further than ever before. Iron Man is certainly one of this year's safest bets, and here's to a long and prosperous franchise!