By Cory Gaudaur
Sun associate editor
Shawn Levy, the director of “Date Night” and “Night at the Museum,” wins at the box office with the family-friendly and action-packed “Real Steel.” Set in the near future, the film follows the story of Charlie Kenton, (Hugh Jackman), a nearly broke ex-fighter whose career in the ring came to an end when the fighting of 2,000 pound steel robots took over.
With his fighting career over, Charlie makes, and just as quickly loses, his money promoting and fighting piece-of-junk robots he has built out of whatever he can find.
Just as Charlie is about to reach his breaking point, he is reunited with his estranged son. Newcomer Dakota Goyo brilliantly plays Max, Charlie’s 11-year-old son, and steals the spotlight throughout the film.
While an unlikely pair in the beginning, the father and son put aside their differences to train Atom, an old sparing bot in disrepair that has been cast aside and forgotten.
As the bond between Charlie and Max grows stronger, they are able to transform Atom into a champion. The dynamic trio beats the odds, and proves that the underdog can end up on top.
Although the plot is somewhat basic and predictable, “Real Steel” does not disappoint when it comes to amazing special effects.
The CG technology and “robot puppets,” created using animatronics, which are used to create the gut-wrenching fight sequences, provide realistic portrayals of what may be the future of the sport of boxing.
From the heart-warming relationship created between Charlie and Max, to the insanely cool fighting robots, “Real Steel” offers something for everyone; the film is a crowd-pleaser and fun for all ages.
****
