It's a refreshing change to see a flick with a premise that hasn't been done before in mainstream movies.
"Real Steel" takes place in the future, sometime shortly after 2016. Charlie (played by Hugh Jackman) owes a handful of people money. An ex-boxer himself, Charlie tries to make money by entering his mostly piece-of-junk robots in boxing matches. Suffice to say, it's not a lucrative venture for him. Meanwhile, Charlie finds out his ex-girlfriend died, leaving him custody of an 11-year-old son, Max. Charlie has known about Max's existence since they boy was born but wasn't involved in his life. Max's aunt wants the boy as Charlie is clear he does not believe he is father material.
It is decided that Max will live with Charlie for two months while his aunt and uncle are in Europe and then they will get full-custody for the boy. During that time, Charlie and Max set out to become robot fighter superstars with a robot of Max's creation.
"Real Steel" Cast
Hugh Jackman plays the lead role in the movie. His movie son, Max, is played by Dakota Goyo, a lad born in 1999. Goyo has a surprisingly long list of television and movie credits to his name, especially considering his age. Goyo resembles a miniature version of Justin Bieber, not surprising since both come from eastern Canada. Jackman's girlfriend in the movie (and a master robot builder and boxing gym owner) is played by Evangeline Lilly of "Lost" and "The Hurt Locker" fame. Lilly's superb acting ability shines through in this flick; I hope she will finally get the kudos she has deserved for years for her acting talent. The cast is rounded out by Hope Davis, Anthony Mackie, and Kevin Durand, among others.
Intended Audience
The most challenging thing to figure out about "Real Steel" is the intended audience for the movie. My date for the show was my 11-year-old son and he thoroughly enjoyed it. A lot of men in the theatre were enthralled with the flick. And I'm not the only woman who was happy to spend 127 minutes watching this movie.
Special Effects
With a budget of approximately $80,000,000 it's no shock that the special effects are impressive in "Real Steel". The action scenes do a superb job of holding your attention. The robots are unique and surprisingly life-like. At a couple points in the movie, you may find yourself sympathetic toward the robots. Of course the machines have no emotions but the creators do a top-notch job of stirring them up in the audience.
Verdict
If you like action movies with a unique premise, a strong cast, and a side story that deals with family drama, then "Real Steel" is for you!
Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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