Real Steel

***
Release Date: September 6th 2011

Set in the near future, where robot boxing is a top sport, a struggling promoter feels he's found a champion in a discarded robot. During his hopeful rise to the top, he discovers he has an 11-year-old son who wants to know his father.

Director: Shawn Levy (Date Night, Night at the Museum/2, Cheaper by the Dozen)

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lily

The idea of robot boxing is somewhat unpromising, but this film sure packs a steely punch.

Set in the (not so) distant future, robot fighting has become a major sport in the US, shadowing human boxing to the point of non-existence.

Charlie (Hugh Jackman) owes a lot of people money, due to gambling problems and losing fights. He can't even pay his rent to unb gym owner Bailey (Evangeline Lily). Whilst on the run, he finds himself strapped in a legal battle over his 11 year old son, Max (Dakota Goyo). He bribes his ex's parents into giving him money so that they can be the legal guardians of Max, on the basis that Charlie spends the summer with him.

What Charlie doesn't realise is the more time is spent with his son, the greater they bond. This is the heart and core of the film; Charlie struggles to deal with every responsibility. Max brings out the best in him, he is his 'shoulder angel'. Charlies negative attitude is upset by Max's optimism.

When money is a distant memory and Charlie needs a new robot, he decides to break into a junkyard, Max at his side, and find a new (old) one. Max comes across a G2 model (known to the Real Steel world as an old school model) which later becomes Atom, their fighting machine. There's a moment when Max slips down a muddy chute and accidentally stumbles across 'Atom'. By shear luck it saves his life, and as their passion for robot fighting grows, so does their love for one another.

Shawn Levy brings out the cliches, as if he'd watched Rocky just before shooting the climactic battle of Real Steel. There's a lot that's been seen before, but it's hard not to find anything to like.

Overview: It's nice to see Hugh Jackman as someone other than Wolverine. Dakota Goyo is a gem in this. We could be seeing a lot more of him in the future.