| Arts & Entertainment

NEW YORK (CNS) -- "Iron Man" (Paramount/Marvel) is a sleekly effective science-fiction tale set against a backdrop of contemporary events and driven by its main character's moral development.

By the second half of the film, that character, billionaire weapons manufacturer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is downing a health shake, after earlier telling a bartender, "Get me a Scotch, I'm starving!"

The cause of this radical reform, not to mention the former playboy's decision to concentrate on one woman -- his loyal girl Friday, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) -- can be chalked up to being held hostage in an Afghan cave by ambitious warlord Raza (Faran Tahir).

There, Raza demanded that he build a replica of his most advanced product. With the help of fellow captive and scientist Yinsen (Shaun Toub), Stark instead constructed an impregnable, gravity-defying suit of armor and escaped.

Once home, Stark announces that his company will no longer make armaments -- much to the consternation of his junior partner, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), and his military liaison, "Rhodey" (Terrence Howard). He then secludes himself in his lab to concentrate on producing an improved version of his improvised outfit, which he will use for altruistic purposes later on.

Executive producer-director Jon Favreau's screen adaptation of this popular Marvel comic-book series features impressive special effects, enjoyably flippant dialogue and a relentlessly energetic performance from Downey. Though Stark's initially dissolute lifestyle is treated humorously, his gradual realization of its underlying emptiness and his subsequent interaction with Potts -- which is respectfully restrained -- are well handled.

The film contains nongraphic sexual activity, torture, a graphic medical procedure, sci-fi violence, occasional crude language, a brief profanity, sexual humor and innuendo. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.