MOVIE REVIEW: What Happens to Tony Stark If He Becomes A Lawyer? Find Out on “THE JUDGE”

Picture this: Tony Stark on a different world, wearing a suit (not his Iron Man suit though), peeing on another lawyer’s pants on purpose, riding a bike without holding on to the handlebars, and giving little care on the world. Basically, it’s the same charming, smart A-hole guy defending people in court instead of the battlefield. Everybody hates our lead but everybody accepts him with open arms, anyway.

His name is Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr). He is a boastful lawyer, a father, and a future divorcee. Hank just came home to Indiana after years of self exile. His mother just died and now he’s faced with the past he’s resisted for years: reunion with brothers, former flame, cancer, and a murder case where his father, Judge Palmer (Robert Duvall), is the suspect.

Judge Palmer is being accused of killing a bad guy he once convicted to jail. This is where Hank steps in as his defendant but his father is not cooperating, much worse  –everybody is clueless, even the forgetful town judge, as to who did the crime.

All the elements of an interesting drama thriller are there, but the details overwhelm the main story.

Vera Farmiga as Hank’s former lover takes note of him being a ladies man but this doesn’t do much with the plot. Her daughter played by Leighton Meester has only two scenes, but it adds up to the list of things Hank should worry about, too, though it proves to be irrelevant as well. Then there’s Jeremy Strong as the mentally challenged and video recording obsessed brother of Hank, revealing his soft spot as a good brother but this, too, doesn’t hold much bearing.

The Judge is not a bad film but it’s also far from being great. There’s a constant feeling of displeasure coursing through the film, preventing it from being superficial. It just feels too condensed.

A little editing of screenplay to remove clutter might gain the film more appreciation and acknowledgment. Overall, the gorgeous cinematography, musical scoring, and brilliant acting especially from the two leads and villain Billy Bob Thornton compensate for the many sins of the film.

If you’re going to see this, you won’t be disappointed by the actors.

Special thanks to Warner Bros. Philippines for the invite. The Judge will hit theaters Oct. 22.