The real fight in any boxing movie never takes place inside the squared circle. That's sorta the point of every such film we've seen over the years, whether it be Rocky, The Fighter, or Play It to the Bone. It takes place in the heart of the man, in his struggle to achieve, to overcome the odds and land a blow against life's harsh realities. That fight is what makes boxing so perfectly suited to the big screen, and also why some actors(Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro) will forever be remembered for their audience grabbing portrayals. What if the brawler is someone literally without emotions? A robot. Is it possible for the crowd to find a connection with such a character? To get behind his cause?
Known primarily for his mega successful Night at the Museum flicks, Shawn Levy knows just the right angle to hook his viewers. With Real Steel he takes the tried and true Rocky formula, and gives it an exciting, futuristic edge that will please everyone, not just boys obsessed with giant mechs. It doesn't hurt to have Hugh Jackman doing that thing he's so good at, playing charming, dangerous guys with hearts of pure gold. Although to be perfectly honest, Jackman gets shown up here, not just by the fantastically created 'bots, but by his youthful co-star.
Taking place in a future that looks more like today than the sleek sci-fi worlds of Andrew Niccol(Gattaca), Real Steel imagines a world where humans aren't just in danger of automation costing them their jobs, they're being replaced by robots in the sport of boxing. Nobody wants to see people beating each other's heads in anymore. Charlie Kenton(Jackman) is an old boxing pro who had a good run but never had his chance to hit the big time. When the robots took over the sport he loved, he lost any chance of it happening. Now basically a small-time hustler/promoter hyping fights between his junk heap of a robot and anybody who'll fight him in hopes of scoring some quick cash. When his robot gets cut to ribbons by a bull, Charlie's in dire straits. Enter Max(Dakota Goyo).
The first hour of Real Steel meanders a little, as the tangled mess of Charlie's various relationships are sorted out. He has an on again/now very off again thing going with Bailey(Evangeline Lilly), a longtime friend who has been enabling him with money and a place to stay for far too long. She's now grown sick of Charlie's antics, but when Max enters the picture she's both worried and a little hopeful for a change. Things don't take off until Max, in a rather silly sequence taking place at a rain soaked garbage dump, discovers the remains of an old sparring 'bot. Naming him Atom, they clean him up and put him through the paces. Built to withstand punishment, Atom keeps winning despite the odds, crushing his more advanced opponents with ease. Charlie, Atom, and especially Max become overnight sensations with a slick hip hop entrance and unbreakable spirit that irritates the sports' ruling elite.
Hugh Jackman is his usual dependable self, but it's Dakota Goyo who is the biggest surprise. This is really a movie about Max more so than Charlie, as he tries to build a family where previously there was none, with a man he barely knows. Goyo steals every scene away from Jackman, no small feat for any actor. If only there were more for Evangeline Lilly to do, but unfortunately her character seems to be there because somebody felt like a love story needed to be included somewhere. The robot design is flawless, a perfect combination of motion capture and animatronics that make each fighter unique. Considering the rather small budget for a film of this size(around $80M), Shawn Levy and company deserve to be commended.
Real Steel is chock full of cliches. That's something nobody can dispute, but every such sports drama is cut from the same cloth. The end is never in question, but the point isn't to pull a fast one over on the audience. It'll make you wonder if Atom can survive another devastating right hook, and have you cheering his every triumph.
