Real Steel: An Underrated Gem

[Winter]

Real Steel is a rather odd film to be sure. It's an obvious Rocky-esk film that is often mistake for a Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots adaptation but is actually loosely based on a Twilight Zone episode that itself is based on a short story from I think a story that was released in a news paper? the film was directed by Shawn Levy who's directed several TV and Movies over the years from the awful Pink Panther remake to the criticality acclaimed Stranger Things and was written by John Gatins who you may know from Kong: Skull Island and the remake Power Rangers movie.

The basic premise of this film is traditional boxing has fallen out of popularity and has been replaced by giant robot fights. A down on his luck fighter, Charlie, ends up spending time with his son Max, played by Dakota Goyo, in order to get a loan from Max's stepfather so he can buy a new robot after his old one got totaled in a bull fight. After another failed fight Charlie and Max find a old sparing bot and use it in a few fights and thanks to Charlie's boxing skills are able to start winning fight until they end up in the grand championship against the legendary bot Zeus.

What I remember most about this film was the response it got from my family. For various reasons we didn't all go together to see it rather I took them one at a time to watch it and the response was exactly the same. They all felt the first 40 or so minutes were an utter drag and hated, HATED Charlie for being, let's be honest, a $#!t father. And yet, at the end, they all ended up cheering for him in the finale fight of the film. They all ended up getting teary-eyed and smiling at the end.

This is a cliched, by the numbers Rocky Boxing film only with a robots one of which is controlled by Wolverine. And yet, it works. The elements that call back to the Rocky films feel like genuine callbacks and tributes instead of the film being lazy or a nostalgia bait. The acting all around is genuinely good and I buy Charlie and Max's arc and the idea that this is a father and son who have a strained relationship yet it's clear that they do care about each other. The effects are AMAZING and on par with Jurassic Park and like JP is my go to example of using a perfect balance between CGI and practical effects. There were honestly a number of times where I honestly believed that one or two CGI bits were a practical effect, it's THAT Good.

Also, it's a movie where Wolverine is friends with The Falcon, I have to love it.

If you haven't yet, I say check it out, it's honestly a very well executed movie with two likeable leads and a fun climatic battle.

[McAvoy]

I liked it. Haven't seen it since I originally watched it. I honestly barely remember it.

[CharlesPhipps]

I honestly think they missed an opportunity with not making it a Rock Em Sock Em Robots adaptation.

[McAvoy]

I honestly think they missed an opportunity with not making it a Rock Em Sock Em Robots adaptation.

I actually remember thinking it was one.