‘Sr.’ adds some tenderness to AFI Fest

HOLLYWOOD (News4usonline) – Robert Downey Jr. has achieved worldwide fame playing Marvel superhero Ironman. His dad, Robert Downey Sr., made the most of his filmmaking career putting together movies and films that largely went under the radar of mainstream audiences. 

So, a year after the passing of the elder Downey, do fans of Ironman get to see the tender side of the man who suits up as the most heroic of all Marvel characters? As Ironman, the younger Downey gets to play a bass-ass superhero with plenty of swagger to go around. That swagger goes missing in the tribute-moving documentary, “Sr.” 

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Making a debut at the 2022 AFI Film Festival, “Sr.” drops the masochism that Ironman walks around in and is seen in the flick about his father in his latter days as a caring and doting son trying to make that each day that he has with his father count. “Sr.” brings a touch of humor and tenderness as son and father collaborate on filmmaking and about how to navigate this thing called life. 

As a producer of the film, Downey Jr. reveals his affectionate side with a natural sense to make this project work well enough to come to light. Clearly, this film appears to be a labor of love for Downey Jr., who trails and follows his dad around as if he is trolling him. It is an interesting concept as Downey Sr., even as his health is deteriorating, is all in for this project. 

What we learned the most about this documentary is that family matters. At the end of the day, even given his stature and fame, Downey Jr. looks up to his father as a real-life superhero. It’s not some wishful, made-up fragmentation of his imagination to Downey what a hero is supposed to be like. 

He grew up with it. He lived beside it. He worked alongside it. Clearly, what we see in “Sr.” is a tribute of adoration from a son to a father who means the world to an actor who knows his fruition into Hollywood stardom would not have come to light without pops laying down the pathway for his Ironman journey. 

One of the more unique aspects of the documentary is that it was filmed in black and white, making the echoes of the heartwarming flick even more compelling. “Sr.” is a lighthearted lovefest that shows that even the toughest of exteriors are vulnerable enough to be broken down to the efforts of humanity. 

When you’re watching “Sr.” it is easy to see where Downey Jr. gets his quirkiness and quick-witted humor from. Downey Sr. is funny. You can’t escape the deadpan way is he is able to look at situations and life in general. What “Sr.” does well is take us on a journey of love and eventual heart-wrenching heartbreak. 

Even then, the film wants us not to waste our time in pity, but rather it invites us to celebrate a man and how he made the world his oyster, and not the other way around. Documentaries are meant to inform others about a particular subject. What “Sr.” is gives us an inside glance at the man who helped shape the acting and theatrical backbone of his son. 

Without the influence that Downey Sr. poured into his son, maybe we wouldn’t get to know junior as the face of the Marvel franchise. “Sr.” is a fun ride. You laugh. You cry. You find yourself asking questions. At the end of the day, you come to appreciate the effort made to bring this documentary to life by not only Downey Jr., but also through the lens of director Chris Smith. 

The depth that Downey Jr. brings to the table as both an actor and someone who works behind the scenes as a producer and writer, we see comes from his father. And we’re better because of it. As the film trudges along, Downey Sr. is constantly giving his son pointers and tips on shooting angles and how to set up scenes. 

Even at the close of the movie, Downey Sr. is still giving his son articulated advice on how to complete the film. It is a beautiful thing to watch. What “Sr.” does is make us believe in going to the movies again. It proves that a great film does not have to be filled with constant violence and rough language in order to be enjoyable to watch.