Richard Matheson’s story “Steel” was first adapted as a memorable “Twilight Zone” episode starring Lee Marvin.  Now it has found new life as a futuristic robot boxing feature film — and it’s very good.  Director Shawn Levy has created a character-based estranged-father-and-son drama that connects on a basic human level while the cool robots pummel the parts out of each other.

The movie really has no business being as effective as it is.  It pretty much follows the Rocky formula while adding robots to the mix.  The relationship between father (Hugh Jackman) and son (Dakota Goyo) is not exactly original.  A couple of other elements are telegraphed early and then arrive right on cue later in the story.  And yet — like Flashdance and Ghostbusters and Pretty Woman and other such films that were somehow better than they should have been, and then found huge audiences — Real Steel is an instant audience favorite.

I cannot deny being won over by its charms.  First of all, the boxing scenes are pretty darn cool.  Having robots beat each other oily removes the barbaric human element that has scarred the sport since its origins.  The film uses technology flawlessly to make the robots and their actions as human as possible, which just increases the coolness factor.  The culture clash between the primitive sparring ‘bot Atom and his new handlers (Jackman / Goyo) and ultra-mean looking Zeus and his technologically savvy Japanese handlers is well developed and realistic.  Even the song that accompanies Jackman’s late-night arrival as the film opens is perfectly selected.

Ultimately the film rests on the father-son relationship, and director Levy takes his time developing this element to the fullest (the film runs 124 minutes).  Jackman is, as usual, very good, and young Dakota Goyo plays off of him quite nicely.  It also helps that the kid is smarter than the father and knows it.  Adding a nice feminine touch is Evangeline Lilly as Jackman’s lonely girlfriend.  Still, the film is most rewarding when the boy learns to appreciate his long-absent father, never more so than in the climactic bout, when Goyo watches Jackman share his boxing know-how with the robot, which reproduces every move Jackman makes.

Boxing films are among the most visceral the cinema can produce.  Here, although without the realism of parts flying off into the crowd, is a solidly entertaining sci-fi sport movie that is grounded by good human drama.  It’s the best boxing film I’ve seen since Cinderella Man and I had a blast watching it.  ✰ ✰ ✰ ½.  14 Oct. 2011.