Robert Downey Jr. is 47 years old today. It's a year like any other for most people, except that in Downey's case, a lot more people care. That wasn't the case so long ago, when his reputation was still being rehabilitated in the wake of some very public addiction scandals and arrests. But then Marvel Studios decided to take the chance on him for "Iron Man," giving Downey a completely new career.
Back in 2008, there was no guarantee that "Iron Man" was going to be a success. Hugely budgeted superhero movies are always a gamble, especially when directed by someone who'd never been known for his action flicks (or for directing at all, really) and starring an actor who'd yet to make his re-emergence into Hollywood's A-list. Combined with the fact that Iron Man was a decidedly B-list Marvel character in the public eye, the table was set for a huge letdown, especially considering Marvel's hit-or-miss track record at the box office.
And then... it turned out to be pretty good. Not "8 ½" good, mind you, but pretty fantastic for a superhero film, filled with relatable characters, riveting action scenes, a healthy sense of humor, and impressive effects that made the Iron Man armor seem realistic and not a complete comic book invention. It ended up making tons of money in its first weekend and garnering tons of critical acclaim, far beyond what amateur projections might've guessed ahead of time.
What's more, it ended up setting the table for the "Avengers" franchise as a whole, with "Captain America" and "Thor" movies quickly following suit, along with another "Iron Man" movie (and a third on the way). It's really not too much of a stretch to say that if "Iron Man" hadn't done as well as it had, then Marvel would've been far less gung-ho to dive into such a long and expensive commitment to its franchise.
At the center of it all was Downey, perfectly cast in the role of Tony Stark with his wry charisma and instantly believable emotional gravitas for when the going got tough. Make no mistake: Downey is the most important part of the franchise, the only actor who couldn't have been recast (something Marvel isn't afraid to do -- ask Edward Norton). It's impossible to imagine anyone else pulling off Stark so completely, right down to the facial hair and stress wrinkles. Hell, it's impossible to imagine any other comic book character as forever fit to an actor as Stark is to Downey. The role ended up being Downey's vehicle back into the limelight, with star turns in "Tropic Thunder," "Sherlock Holmes" and "The Soloist" soon following. It's all been forward progress from there.
So yes, happy birthday to Mr. Downey, and thanks for the future of comic book movies we have ahead of us. You may one day be replaced as Tony Stark, for better or worse, but it's impossible that you'll ever be outclassed.
Wish RDJ a happy birthday in the comments section or on Twitter!
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