Real Steel

Editorial

Kids love robots. Adults love boxing. Why not stick them together? Director Shawn Levy clearly hopes this partnership will create a box-office smackdown. Despite success with big budget comedies, Levy hasn't exactly earned critical respect for his previous output (The Pink Panther remake, Night At The Museum). With Real Steel, he's at least trying to stretch himself, adding family drama to the toolbox.

Fortunately, he has an ace up his sleeve in the shape of Hugh Jackman, who gives a charisma-driven turn as stubborn Charlie Kenton, a man still holding on to past glories as a lifeline. In the near-future, he scratches out a living with quick-cash schemes.

Though the script doesn't give him a lot of depth to work with, it's at its best when brought to life by Jackman and young Dakota Goyo, who evokes the Kenton spirit in some of Max's reactions. Plus, there's Atom, the beaten-up robot they discover in a junkyard.

There is occasionally too much nodding towards the likes of E. T., but also scope for heartfelt moments as boy and 'bot bond during training sessions.

Fortunately, the boxing action doesn't disappoint, with satisfying moments as the metal warriors clash. And employing performance-capture technology for the hulking fighters pays dividends.

The biggest issue for the director is serving two masters. Splitting his time between the new family unit working itself out and the underdog sports story means that neither quite gets the treatment it deserves.

In fact, outside of Jackman and Goyo, attempts to generate some real emotion all fall flat. Levy lets his past get the better of him when he beats it into you that You Should Be Feeling Awed/Upset/Triumphant Right Now. A little less emphasis on easy tugging of the heartstrings would have worked wonders for the impact of the whole.

James White