An at-times unusual blend of intense futuristic boxing and schmaltzy, predictable father and son drama, this science fiction adventure is a mixed bag but should find a keen audience these school holidays.
Based on a 1956 short story by Richard Matheson, Real Steel is set in the near future, which looks a lot like 2011 but with flashier gadgets and boxing robots.
These 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots look like Transformers and perform like WWE stars; the battling bots can't speak and are controlled by humans as if they're playing a real-life computer game.
Ex-boxer Charlie Kenton (Jackman) is a robot fighter; a small-time promoter who is constantly in debt, makes bets he can't pay, and pits his robots in battles they can't win. This changes when he's landed with his estranged 11-year-old son for the summer holidays. Max (Goyo) is just as passionate about robot fighting, but more level-headed than his father.
The two reconcile over a robot called Atom, who Max finds in a recycling yard, with Max hammering into his father a few life lessons on loyalty, family, recognising a good bet and believing in the little guy. Atom gives Charlie a chance to redeem his lost boxing career and win back his son.
