Real Steel film review

(Rating: 12A, 127 mins) Written by Zen Terrelonge

Starring – Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lily.

Real Steel is based on the short story named steel by Richard Matheson.

The film is set in the year 2027 where boxing has become extinct as a result of spectators growing more bloodthirsty. This has led former gloved fighter Charlie (Jackman) to lose his path in life as his beloved sport has vanished.

Not entirely however, human boxing has fallen to see the rise of the machines (do you like the robotic Terminator reference?) in the form of the WRB – World Robot Boxing.

Inventors enter their eight-foot destruction machines into tournaments and fight for glory. Although not much will be found in Charlie’s blackmarket underground sector, especially the way he fights. Dismally.

Max (Goyo) finds himself cast upon Charlie and it’s hard to tell who loathes who more. For Max, Charlie is a waster who abandoned him and for Charlie, Max is nothing short of a hindrance, preventing his bachelor lifestyle from blooming.

Bailey (Lily) is Charlie’s landlord and former love-interest who bridges the gap between the estranged twosome.

The father and son slowly bond through robot boxing finding that a passion for the sport unites them on common ground.

Max adores his new find, an old sparring bot called Atom, which he regards as an amalgamation of friend and pet.

Charlie on the other hand sees the robot as a waste of time for his lack of size and experience, until one fight changes Charlie’s skepticism into greed. The greed for the money and glory he never made as a fighter himself.

I never thought it would be possible to dislike Jackman, a gentleman totally affable and completely committed to every role. And it’s not possible, even as a totally self-involved swine you can’t help but enjoy him on screen, except when it’s Max he’s talking to. He treats the poor child like a bad dog for the majority.

Goyo is a golden find, his portrayal of Max is brilliant, he has a sharp tongue and copes will Charlie’s blunt and cold behaviour with ease, giving as good as he gets. Beneath the surface though is a 11-year-old boy that just wants the love of his daddy.

Real Steel has everything you need, family elements, love and most importantly brilliant metal mashing fight scenes.

It’s Rocky with robots and of course the audience will route for the the underdog Atom as reigning champion Zeus (by name, Zeus by nature) is his Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago rolled into one.

Knockout 10/10

Real Steel is in cinemas now.