Set in the future, Real Steel takes boxing to a whole new level. In this sport of the future, giant robots are the ones boxing, with humans sitting on the sidelines programming their every move. It’s a more humane way to box, when you think about it. And it’s more interesting because the robots can actually fight to the death, so to speak, and no humans get injured. This sure cuts down on brain damage. And the robots are capable of doing things humans cannot.
The Story of Real Steel
Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) is a down-on-his-luck former boxer who now boxes with his robots. Charlie is deep in debt and continually risks whatever he has, or even doesn’t have, for the opportunity to make money. Then his former girlfriend dies leaving the state of Charlie’s eleven-year-old son Max (Dakota Goyo) up in the air. Charlie does not even know his son. Max’s aunt wants to adopt him and Charlie sees a way to make money off of this situation. He makes a back-room deal with her husband to pay him for his approval to let them adopt the boy. The only catch is that he must keep Max for the summer while the couple is off on a European vacation.
Charlie is not - by any stretch of the imagine - father material. He has no idea how to take care of a young boy so he enlists the help of his friend Bailey (Evangeline Lily). If the kid can stay alive for the summer, then Charlie will get his money and Max will get to live with people who can provide for him.
Max is intrigued by the giant robots, and wangles his way into Charlie’s every move. This kid is cunning, but also wants to get closer to the father he has never known. Charlie just wants the kid out of the way.
Little by little the two form a bond and an understanding of each other, when Max finds a robot in a junkyard and starts programming it himself. Between Max and Charlie, they make a great team and end up taking the robot on the road. With Max’s determination and Charlie’s boxing history, the little junkyard robot manages to capture the attention of the fans and brings father and son together.
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman’s character of Charlie is touching, at the end. Until the end, however, he is a selfish son-of-a-**** through the majority of the film. Fans of the actor will enjoy seeing him change from a jerk (to put it mildly) to a caring man.
Bonus Features on Real Steel
There are bonus features showing how the filmmakers constructed the robots and the sets. And there is “The Charlie Kenton Story” about Jackman’s character. Deleted scenes and bloopers are also included.
Real Steel Review
The robots seem to have their own personalities and watching them box is interesting. It is also interesting to see that humans are not boxing each other, especially after all the news about head injuries in athletes.
There are two stories going on in this film. The first is the story of the robot boxing world. The second is the story of father and son, and how their relationship grows. Watching the two characters transition from strangers to a true love of each other is heartening.
- Real Steel – 3-Disc Combo Pack, 2-Disc Combo Pack and DVD
- Studio: Touchstone Home Entertainment
- Rating: PG-13 for some violence, intense action and brief language
- Running time: 127 minutes
- Street date: January 24, 2012
