Robert Downey Jr.’s Comeback Tour

Before finally sitting down to watch the latest movie version of Sherlock Holmes yesterday I thought I might be able to get blog post out of it. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Although Holmes featured three actors I like very much, Robert Downey Jr., Rachel McAdams and Jude Law, I was not impressed with the movie as a whole. The only aspect of the movie that really caught my attention was Downey, who, since starring as Tony Stark in Iron Man, has shed his reputation as being an acting liability and has instead become known as one hell of a badass actor.

A little background: Things started out pretty well for Downey. In 1992, he starred as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. His other films in the 1990s included Heart and Souls, Only You and Natural Born Killers, among many others, which had him costarring with big names. But as the 1990s continued Downey would have more of a rap sheet then a resume which included getting arrested numerous times on drug-related charges and going through countless drug treatment programs unsuccessfully.

In 1996, Downey was arrested for possession of heroin, cocaine and an unloaded .357-caliber Magnum handgun, while he was speeding down Sunset Boulevard. A month later, when on parole, he trespassed into a neighbor’s home while under the influence of a controlled substance, falling asleep in one of the beds. He was sentenced to three years of probation and was required to undergo mandatory drug testing. In 1997 he missed one of the court-ordered drug tests and had to spend four months in the Los Angeles County jail. When Downey missed another required drug test in 1999, he was arrested once more. Downey finally went to rehab for the last time and in 2001 he began rebuilding his career again.

In 2008 Downey finally hit it big with Tropic Thunder and of course, Iron Man. In the latter, Downey is the epitome of awesome: besides being a genius inventor he is also charismatic, funny, charming and good looking. And also he drives an Audi R8 which is pretty much the most amazing car on the road these days. Iron Man 2 brings its AC/DC-laced self into theaters this Friday, May 7, and it is arguably the most anticipated movie of Summer 2010. I know that I can’t wait to see Downey in his red and gold armor again and I’m also very curious to see Mickey Rourke as the villain. This movie bleeds “Summer Blockbuster” and I’m all for it.

If seeing Iron Man (and hopefully Iron Man 2 as well) doesn’t convince you that Downey has officially made his comeback then check out your local newsstands. He is on the cover of BOTH Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly this week. You really can’t get more badass than that.