Robert Downey Jr. Needs to Reevalutate His Career Highlights

I’m hesitant to admit that Robert Downey Jr. is one of my favorite actors. It’s a statement that comes with a caveat. While his portrayal of Tony Stark throughout his MCU journey is exceptional, the impact of that role on his career had both positive and negative consequences. On one hand, it served as a saving grace for the once uninsurable actor, but on the other hand, it constrained his creativity. Nevertheless, he did manage to explore other projects during his time as Iron Man, including the enjoyable Sherlock Holmes series with Guy Ritchie and Jude Law, the comedic film Due Date, and the ill-advised award-bait feature The Judge alongside Robert Duvall. However, had he chosen stronger projects in the interim, it would have been easier to fully appreciate the talent showcased in Iron Man, Captain America: Civil War, or Infinity War.

In the mid-2000s, the actor seemed to regain control of his abilities after appearing in several fringe films. His filmography became more diverse, encompassing the captivating Kiss Kiss Bang Bang that acted as a pre-Iron Man soft-launch, his remarkable supporting roles in Good Night, Good Luck, Zodiac, and A Scanner Darkly, and his impressive performances in smaller indie films like A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints and the earlier 2000 gem Wonder Boys. These are the films that immediately come to mind when considering Downey at his best, solidifying his position among my favorite actors.

Interestingly, his much-maligned Doolittle and the Disney family flick featuring Tim Allen, The Shaggy Dog, are not included in that list. However, Downey himself disagrees, considering both films as two of the most significant in his career. In an interview with The New York Times, he explained their importance:

“Honestly, the two most important films I’ve done in the last 25 years are The Shaggy Dog because that was the film that convinced Disney to insure me. Then the second most important film was Dolittle because Doolittle was a two-and-a-half-year disappointment of wasted opportunity.”

Opinions may differ on his charisma in Wonder Boys or his ability to bring empathy to his flawed character in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, but it is difficult to overlook the impact of Tropic Thunder — a role that garnered him Oscar nominations — or, of course, Iron Man, the film that propelled him to global superstardom and laid the foundation for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it today. However, if you choose to credit The Shaggy Dog, by all means! It certainly leaves us wondering about the missed opportunity with Doolittle and whether there ever was a script worthy of pursuing.