The votes have been counted and this month's Nerd Man honors go to Robert Downey Jr. At first blush, you might think, "Robert Downey Jr? He's no kind of nerd man." Ah, but let me put forth a few salient points here: first, he's currently starring as a computer/engineering brainiac who likes to build giant robots and fly around in them in "Ironman" (cue Black Sabbath music); two, he dated Sarah Jessica Parker closer to her "Square Pegs" years than her "Sex and the City" years and three, well, who cares about three -- have you seen this picture?
Yes, he's such a badass, he can blow torch his own thigh...and not even flinch.
Seriously, though, Downey earns the honors this month for making "Ironman" such an enjoyable treat for fans and non-fans alike of the original comic book. He does what few other actors ever do in summer action flicks -- he actually acts. Aside from a questionable choice in facial hair man-scaping, Downey is flawless in this movie, giving Tony Stark a wonderful mix of humor, sarcasm, intensity, sexiness and intelligence.
I've been a fan of Downey and his extraordinary eyelashes from the moment I first saw him in a "Saturday Night Live" skit 20 years ago playing a supermodel trapped on a deserted island clutching a stuffed tiger. You had to be there, but trust me, it was good. He's a wonderful actor who always brings something different to each of his roles -- in fact, if you've never seen him in "Chaplin," rent it this weekend. He doesn't fly but he does do a fine British accent which, for an American, may be even harder than the flying thing.
For putting the snark back into sexy and for making a summer movie shine, The Park Bench is pleased to award May's Nerd Man of the Month honors to Robert Downey Jr. Let the salivating begin...
