REVIEW: Jackman and Goyo ‘steel’ the show
“Real Steel” will knock your socks off with a heavy-metal sucker punch.
The year is 2020. The boxing game has evolved. The crowds want more brutality and more carnage, so now robots fight each other.
Charlie (Hugh Jackman) is a shadow of his former self, as an underdog boxer who now tries to make money fighting robots. He is first seen driving to a fair to employ his robot Ambush in a fight with a non-mechanical bull.
After the fight, Charlie is notified of the death of his ex-girlfriend and his duty to show up at a hearing to determine the future of his 11-year old son Max (Dakota Goyo), whom he has never met. He relinquishes custody to Max’s aunt and uncle with the condition he takes care of Max for three months.
Charlie quickly learns his son is a smart kid. Max speaks Japanese, has a knowledge of the history of robot boxing and is an effective video game player. Max cons his way into going to an underground robot boxing match where Charlie’s pride lost the match and his robot.
While looking for parts to construct a replacement robot, Max slips off the edge of a cliff but is saved by a protruding robot arm and Charlie. Max discovers an entire robot attached to the arm and decides he wants to get the robot trained for combat.This is a pivotal point in the movie, as Charlie and Max begin to build a solid relationship and train a fighting robot named Atom.
Atom’s special ability is his shadow mode, a mode used for instant programming and response that doesn’t have to wait for commands from a controller or voice. That ability helps Atom develop his skills and gives a level of humanity to his mechanical heart as he learns from Charlie.
“Real Steel” is a hard hitting movie with enough father-son drama to round out the rough edges. It also gives perspective into the world of combat sports.
Although “Real Steel” is a science-fiction movie, it portrays a believable near future. Nerds and geeks will appreciate the technology seen in the day-to-day life and that of the robots even though that technology is there to set the stage, not to tell the story.
The history of robot boxing is discussed throughout the movie. It’s informative but not overbearing. It allows the audience to get pulled into the reality of the story while still being able to enjoy the action and excitement.
Jackman, who needs no introduction, is excellent as a father establishing a relationship with his son. The tenderness and weakness of being a first-time parent is apparent in his acting. As in the “X-Men” movies, he discards his Australian accent for an American one.
Twelve-year-old Goyo really steals the show as Charlie’s brilliant son Max. If you’re a fanatic of the summer blockbuster “Thor,” you may recognize him as Young Thor. Goyo is a relatively new actor, who I predict will continue to grow in popularity.
Keven Durand, instantly noticeable from “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” is also a former boxer and continued antagonist to Jackman’s Charlie. Durand and Jackman’s past from “Wolverine” give the boxing banter an extra comedic edge for those who noticed the inside joke.
Director Shawn Levy, who previously directed “Date Night” and the “Night at the Museum” movies, effectively applies his skills to an action film with father-son bonding. He ensured a well-crafted movie with plenty of subtle story elements, such as the parallels between Charlie and Atom, that bound the movie together like a tightly woven basket.
The soundtrack is made up of a selection of hip-hop and rap with a touch of melancholy alternative. It’s great music to get pumped up to as the stage is set for action. The score, composed by Danny Elfman, helped set the mood for the tender moments.
Although the situations have been seen before in other movies and stories, “Real Steel” is still a show worth your money. The true no-holds-barred fights will draw you in, and you will join the crowd in cheering on the fighters to the championship.
— Spencer Palmer is a graduate student working toward an MBA with a recent bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. He enjoys watching all sorts of movies. Email him at spencer.palmer@aggiemail.usu.edu.