Starring Hugh Jackman as a robot-boxing promoter, whose underdog story becomes intertwined with an emotional journey after his estranged 11-year-old son comes to stay with him.
Set in the not-so-distant future, a time where boxing fights between mechanical robots has become a hugely popular sport, Real Steel charts the journey of Charlie (Jackman) as he attempts to win big cash promoting fights with his robots, who have, so far, only got him into huge amounts of debt with shady characters.
After the death of his ex-wife, his son Max (Dakota Goyo) comes to stay with him whilst court proceedings occur which will decide the boy’s ultimate fate. Charlie, a self-centred man, struggles with the child, finding him a nuisance rather than kin. However, in typical underdog-sporting film fashion, the two bond over the robot boxing, and find themselves on a path to destiny.
A surprisingly interesting and entertaining film, one which suffers from a poorly chosen title. Many would think this a cheap-trick robot film (think Transformers meets Big Daddy), but in reality, the movie offers up some excellent moments of poignancy and pathos, whilst combining this with some superb special effects. The fighting sequences are well orchestrated, somewhere between pro-wrestling and karate, whilst the modern music tracks add a degree and authenticity.
Performances are nothing special, although Lost’s Evangeline Lilly gives a decent portrayal of Charlie’s dependable girlfriend. The story becomes a little lost towards the end, relying too heavily on the action and less on the heart of the plot between father and son.
If you like boxing films and special effects, and can ignore the puppy-dog sentimentalism, then this will probably satisfy your cravings, but for in-depth emotional viewing this will do nothing for you.
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