It's the not so distant future. The world is a little more high tech, and that electronic surge has impacted the sports world. Well, at least it has impacted the boxing world. Apparently, society's need for a return to a gladiator-esque blood thirst, has helped destroy the sport of boxing--being replaced by robot boxing, where the thumbs down of death is common place. Enter Charlie (Hugh Jackman). He's a former boxer who transitioned to managing robot boxers. Charlie's one of those act first, think later, sorts. Unfortunately, his first actions are always high risk notions that saddle him with great debt and tons of trouble. Next, we meet Charlie's son, Max (Dakota Goyo). Max is eleven years old and has never seen the slightest attention from ole dad. However, when Max's mom dies, Charlie sees a pot of gold. It's Max's aunt that wants custody and her hubby is willing to pay. So, as long as Max spends the summer with Charlie, he'll make the cash he needs and the hubby will deliver custody of Max to his wife. Max discovers Atom--an ancient, but special robot that helps put Charlie on the map. Yadayadayada the two bond as Atom rises to the top of the boxing world.
I'll give it 3.0 Stars--on the sunny side of okay. It's a good story, that strongly mirrors Sly Stallone's Over the Top from the eighties, where a truck driving absentee father bonds with his kid over an arm wrestling tournament. Similarities aside, Real Steel delivers the expected character growth and actually some of the unexpected as well. Of course, we see dad and son bond. However, in terms of Max, there were two elements missing--one, the kid's bond with the robot (Atom); and two, the kid's obliviousness to his mom's death. Actually, I kinda expected more of a bond between Max and Atom, especially when we hear early talk of the bots unique emotional capacity. In the end, he's just a machine--as is Max apparently, because we never see any hint of concern over his mother's passing. Of course, the flick is not about her, but it is about him. Sure, Max is a rough-and-tumble kid, played very well by Goya, but part of his persona could have at least been developed through his distant emotional approach to his mom's death. It was kind of a missed opportunity at character development that would have been very real. Meanwhile, Jackman provided his typical solid performance to yet another macho character, with a slight, but not over-the-top romance with long time friend and once gf, Bailey (Evangeline Lilly).
Overall, it's a fun flick that definitely worth a view. Good messages abound and are delivered in a fun way that tells a good story. Don't over think this one and you'll probably enjoy it. Worth a BIG screen view? Well, I'd probably rent this one if I had a do-over. It's slated to come out in February on Blu-Ray...give it a shot then.
True...OUT!
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