Any new film starring Robert Downey Jr is bound to be a hit based purely on his popularity from the IRON MAN franchise. The guy is a talented actor who is in the enviable position of being able to cherry pick his roles these days. With THE JUDGE, Downey is trying to stretch his dramatic muscles a little more than usual.
The first trailer for THE JUDGE painted Downey’s character as a Tony Stark-esque douche with a heart of gold. Our very own Chris Bumbray reviewed the movie and gave it a decent review, calling it schmaltzy and overly sentimental. I can see that from the first trailer, but this new international version drives it home with a sledgehammer.
Gone is any sense of humor or levity and instead THE JUDGE is presented as a straight dramatic story about a father and son working for redemption in their tumultuous relationship. I like that this new take isn’t pandering to Marvel fans, but it also doesn’t make the movie seem that much better. Now, emblazoned all over the trailer are the Academy Award credentials of all those involved, including Robert Duvall, Billy Bob Thornton, Vera Farmiga, and Vincent D’Onofrio.
THE JUDGE opens in theaters on October 10th.
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