STA friend John Brooks of My ReViews is a huge superhero fan, so we asked him to report back to us on how Gwyneth Paltrow did playing an assistant in Iron Man. Paltrow plays Virginia “Pepper” Potts, the redheaded Girl Friday to Robert Downey Jr.’s boss Tony Stark.
There are a lot of reasons we love Iron Man (which grossed over a jillion dollars this past weekend): Robert Downey Jr. as millionaire industrialist womanizing player-turned superhero Tony Stark; the amazing effects; the fact that it contains actual, three-dimensional human characters; that awesome superhero suit; Robert Downey Jr.
-To Robert Downey Jr., for playing the coolest boss in the world, and setting a good example to all other bosses (READ: Saving the world as superhero –YES, Throwing mugs at heads – NO). Even when Tony crosses the line and hits on his assistant, it’s only because he’s finally caught on to the obvious fact that they are in love with each other.
-On that note, to Gwyneth Paltrow, again, for calling her boss out on being a dick when he needs to be called out on being a dick.
And finally, to Jon Favreau and the rest of the creative team behind Iron Man, for showing the world that assistants have both feelings and uses, and that these uses can, in fact, extend to (SPOILER ALERT) saving the hero’s ass and basically winning the day. Or, to put it another way, for confirming what we all know, deep down, to be true: in the heart of every assistant, there lies a hero.
Iron Man was a practically flawless hero flick; its makers drop some pretty obvious sequel hints too… i’m thinking the next one should be equally great
that’s true.
Iron Man is arguably the best superhero flick I’ve ever seen, but I have to admit that I felt Pepper to be the weakest character. Her props above are well-deserved, because as an assistant Pepper gets her shit DONE! But Gwyneth didn’t give Pepper the awesomeness she was due. That being said, I want to BE Iron Man (mostly because I want to play with the suit. I want to fly! And to blow shit up.)
Eh - I don’t know that I agree with you, Kelly - I really do think Gwyneth does an incredible job at playing Pepper! The most notable example was the panache with which Gwyneth delivered one of the best lines of the movie:
Virginia ‘Pepper’ Potts: [after Stark's one night stand with Christine] I have your clothes here; they’ve been dry cleaned and pressed. And there’s a car waiting for you outside that will take you anywhere you’d like to go.
Christine Everheart: You must be the famous Pepper Potts.
Virginia ‘Pepper’ Potts: [smiles and nods] Indeed I am.
Christine Everheart: After all these years, Tony still has you picking up the dry cleaning.
Virginia ‘Pepper’ Potts: I do anything and everything Mr. Stark requires. Including occasionally taking out the trash. Will that be all?
What a fantastic insult! And Gwyneth delivered it perfectly!