Real Steel

Released: 2011

Directed By: Shawn Levy

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly

Certificate: 12A

Reviewed By: Darryl Griffiths

The world of boxing up to now, has relied on slightly naive male and even female beings to train their asses off culminating in often titanic fights to the death. But what if in the near future, it became a sport that was deemed too punishing on the human psyche and ultimately resulted in promoters turning to more high tech powerhouses, to take on each other for our viewing pleasure?? This is the question posed by director Shawn Levy (Night at The Museum 1 and 2) and producer Steven Spielberg (does the bearded supremo ever rest!?) in this scrap metal fest of a sports drama.

Its slightly ludicrous premise is based in the year 2027 and initally revolves around the financially unstable and emotional beaten down Charlie, played by Mr Wolverine Hugh Jackman. In the prime of his life, he used to be a highly regarded boxer. Now, he is greatly down on his luck and his risk taking in the robot boxing world has had terrible ramifications on him. A deadbeat if you like. Due to the social scale he now finds himself at in the profession, he has to go underground to obtain the rights to gain fights by travelling from town to town. You know you’ve hit rock bottom when your ’bot ends up fighting a larger than life bull!

His problems don’t end there however, as his relationships are fractured also. His affection for gym owner Bailey (Evangeline Lilly’ and vice versa has diminished and to put the icing on a seemingly distasteful cake, his desperation reaches fever pitch as he ends up reluctantly selling his full of attitude and sharp tongued son Max (newcomer Dakota Goyo), to his deceased ex- girlfriend’s sister for a hefty cash sum. But with her and her husband planning a fancy trip, Charlie willingly offers to look after Max over a limited period of time. Their tolerance early on for each other’s comments at this point is low, but this soon alters after a near traumatic experience at a scrap metal site, where they find the remains of a generation two robot called Atom. With Charlie’s past experience in the ring and Max’s being tech savvy, they form an unlikely partnership as they first and foremost restore the ‘bot’ and soon train him to be a major player on the grand stage. As you’d expect, it plants the seeds for a championship contest against a formidable opponent. Here, it comes in the form of the undefeated Zeus.

There is no denying, that Real Steel may add a new licker of paint to the sports drama with its technologically advanced approach, but from a narrative standpoint it can’t fight the temptation of cliches. It’s occasionally brash tone (a hip hop dance routine.. REALLY?) may offput some audiences, but for the most part it succeeds in being a old school crowd pleaser. Jackman puts in a very game and charismatic performance, with the dynamic between him and his younger counterpart Goyo (who more than holds his own) being the real driving force. On the other hand, the supporting cast are too one dimensional to really register an interest in, with Lilly as a prime example being a token love interest and cheerleader for the ‘LET’S GO JACKMAN’ fan club.

Credit to Levy, who directs the fight scenes with enthusiasm and flair and the Spielberg influence is evident indeed, with the film thankfully connecting on an emotive level. The technical terms such as ‘shadow mode’ are a neat touch, with Sugar Ray Leonard taking the plaudits here for playing a grand part in the film’s action orientated segments. In addition, technically the film is sublime with its visual and sound effects capturing every crunching move.

So overall, it may not be an emphatic knockout, but it’s definitely worth going a few rounds with especially as a family!