Cinema Review - Real Steel

Director - Shawn Levy
Starring - Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo

Real Steel is a film in the robotic mould of a Rocky movie, but outside this metallic framework is that of a tale of father and son reconciliation. Levy uses the robots to symbolically and figuratively represent Jackman’s character, a failed boxer who would sooner sell his son for cash than face his responsibilities. Life has left him on the garbage heap. It is that same garbage heap that his son, played with likable enthusiasm by Goyo, revives an abandoned robot and in turn his relationship with his father.

The robot, Atom, is in every way the underdog, but despite his size he can take a beating. Jackman is the robot in every sense. As the father and son connect over the success of their fighting robot so too does Jackman’s confidence grow. His skills become the robots skills as their robot possesses a unique ability to shadow and learn from Jackman’s boxing expertise. As the film progresses, Jackman and his son reveal their robot’s innate value and in parallel Jackman’s own value as a fighter and a father is uncovered . He fights back against the odds and at the crunch point realises the real fight is to fight for his son.

As is expected the father son tale is played against the typical boxing scenario as seen in Rocky. The underdog rises to fight the colossal champion. The fights, which are choreographed by Sugar Ray Leonard, have a genuine sense of the sport behind the robots. The part CGI / part animatronics robots have the right sense of realism to make it credible to watch.

Real Steel is an enjoyable watch and as expected from Spielberg as Exec Producer the film as the production value and emotional resonance to make you want to invest in Jackman. Jackman is, as always, immensely watchable and turns a character, who under another actor’s control could be obnoxious to the point of audience disconnection, into a likeable rogue. Lilly is a pleasure to see acting again in the supporting role and gives a genuine barometer for the type of man Jackman is portraying. She aids in the sense that here is a man on the garbage heap and only a person who can see beyond would attempt to salvage him, just as she and his son do.

The boxer and his mechanical shadow overcome the odds and his own failings and its fun to go along on the ride.

Rating: 7/10

Official Trailer: