One of the main reasons this movie was so popular was because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Robert Dowey Jr provides a fantastic performance as Tony Stark who is constantly cracking jokes which break up some of the more serious elements of the film. The main conflict of the film was also a breath of fresh air for the genre, as there are no world ending cosmic threats, but the more relatable issue of gangs getting a hold of dangerous weapons. The supporting characters are also very good with Pepper Potts acting as a foil to Tony Stark and Obadiah Stane as a believable villain worried about the stocks of Tony’s company.