It’s weird - I seem to be very bipolar on reviews here - either I really love something or I really dislike it.  Honestly, that’s more because I struggle to write about my own indifference towards something.  Strong enjoyment or strong distaste is SO much more enjoyable to share with others - it’s the middle-ground that is hard to communicate.

And that brings me to this evening’s review - Real Steel.  Just over two hours in length, the film really couldn’t bring me to any set emotion. The film simply happened, and I was there to see it - but as I’ll get to, I could just be the wrong person for it.

For those who haven’t seen the trailers (which spell out a lot of the plot), allow me to summarize the setup for you. Hugh Jackman (WOLVERINE!~) plays Charlie Kenton, a down and out fighting robot operator.  See, Charlie was once a boxer of note, and once the world became more entertained by the high-stakes violent world of robot boxing, his career went down the toilet, and when you can’t beat them, you join them.  But it seems that the world of robot boxing hasn’t treated him well, leaving him sending a trail of debt, beer bottles and bad decisions across the country as he takes he and his robot from city to city.  Things change for Charlie, however, as one day an old ex-girlfriend dies, leaving him with his long lost son Max (Dakota Goyo), and now it’s up to him to figure out how to deal with a son, paying off his debt, and maybe even making it up to a childhood friend/lover in his former trainer’s daughter, Bailey (Lost’s Evangeline Lilly).

Along the way, Max even develops an interest in robot fighting, and one fateful night they stumble upon an abandoned early generation sparring robot, named Atom, but there’s something special about Atom - and Charlie alongside Max decide to see what Atom’s truly worth in the ring.

I know, you’re already doing the mental math - Atom fights up the ranks, Charlie and Max get closer, Charlie becomes the father he was supposed to be, and that endears Bailey to Charlie, everyone gets happy by the credits.  It’s really easy to project (sorry for the spoilers?) - but there’s a notable flaw with the script, and it’s probably what bothers me the most…none of that is earned, but it all happens.

Charlie suddenly becomes a “good dad” without the crisis of self.  Atom gets a shot at the top title in robot fighting. Max learns to love his dad…I think?  But the movie never shows us the how or why - we just get there. And maybe that’s my flaw in watching Real Steel.  Maybe I expect too much from the movie. Maybe I should just write it off as dumb fun, because if you let it be - it IS fun.

The real draw of the film, i.e. where the money is, is definitely the robots and they shine, literally and figuratively.  A mixture of practical animatronics and CG, the robots are VERY impressive, and the fight sequences (there are about 4-5 major ones in the film) are exciting and well rendered.  This movie is going to be amazing to an entire generation of 6-10 year old boys.  From the scrapheap look of Atom to the asian flared Noisey Boy to the big bad monster Zeus, each robot has a noticeable personality, dragging you into the fights.

And that leads me to my problem with the acting…the robots actually do a better job of grabbing sympathy and interest than the actors.  I know I alluded to the weak script earlier on, but the actors do nothing to really add to the interest. Jackman’s American accent is all over the place throughout the film, slipping from Jersey to almost a bad Kennedy impression, and Dakota Goyo, playing Max, is simply a brat throughout the movie - except of course when the movie hits the redemption switch and all is good.

Maybe that’s my issue - Real Steel really could have been a fun, all ages romp with fighting robots, but it just didn’t want to put in the time to gain my interest or affection.  That being said, the audience at the preview screening was unlike any I’ve experienced in a long while, cheering during the battles, clapping for Atom’s victories and getting into each bout as if it was happening in real time.

So like I said, maybe I’m wrong, maybe Real Steel is really great. But only time and audiences will tell.