'He was a bit of a snob': Robert Downey Jr says his dad wasn't impressed with his Iron Man role
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Robert Downey Jr's journey so far has been nothing short of extraordinary. Despite facing numerous challenges, this gifted actor beat the odds and emerged victorious, winning numerous fans worldwide. However, even with his immense success as the main star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Downey Jr has opened up about his father's critical stance on his portrayal of 'Iron Man'.
"Uh uh. Yeah, bomb, bomb. Jokes. Funny robots. I get it," Downey Jr said, recalling his father's reaction to his portrayal of Iron Man. Despite the actor's success, it seems his father had reservations about the superhero franchise. "I hate to say it, but he was a bit of a snob," Downey Jr admitted, as per Fortune.
'Too episodic'
Downey Jr mentioned that his father wasn't particularly impressed with his work in the 'Sherlock Holmes' movies, describing his reaction as "Cute." Even though the whodunnit became popular with audiences, Downey Sr seemed to have a preference for films that aligned with his personal taste and it appears that the blockbuster movies didn't meet his standards.
Interestingly, Downey Jr's acclaimed portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in the 1992 film 'Chaplin' also didn't receive the same appreciation from his father. Despite the widespread acclaim and awards the actor garnered for his performance, Downey Sr "thought ‘Chaplin’ was too episodic." It may seem like Downey Sr was impossible to please, but according to Downey Jr, there were a few instances where his father did appreciate his work. One such instance was his portrayal of an addict in 'Less Than Zero'.
'My dad and I are pretty flawed dudes'
Downey Jr recalled, "I remember that he thought 'Less Than Zero' was good." He also mentioned that his father liked a German song he sang when he was just 15. To pay tribute to his father, Downey Jr worked on a documentary titled 'Sr' about his father's life, which was released on Netflix.
"My dad and I are pretty flawed dudes," Downey Jr reflected, adding, "It was a way to put something between us in our own relationship and closure. It's like a little string you pull at, you know. And it winds up pulling you into a rabbit hole that I kind of needed to go down in order to process and ingest the totality of our relationship."