The unlikely movie Robert Downey Jr called the best job of his career
The name Robert Downey Jr likely brings a slew of movies and roles to mind. Most will immediately recall his long-running stint as billionaire superhero Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man. Others may remember his recent performance as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster biopic Oppenheimer last year or even some of his earlier roles, like Ian, the bully in John Hughes’ science-fiction comedy Weird Science. However, his best gig, according to Downey Jr himself, may not be the one that first comes to mind.
Few Hollywood megastars have enjoyed as much box-office success as Downey Jr, largely thanks to the colossal success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which has seen him star in some of the highest-grossing films of all time. However, his transition away from superhero movies has been more challenging than expected, as seen with his less successful turn in Dolittle. This may be reflected in his recent casting as Doctor Doom in the upcoming Fantastic Four film, hinting at a return to the superhero genre. Despite these ups and downs, Downey Jr remains one of the most bankable names in Hollywood.
It is then all the more surprising when, during an interview when the actor was promoting Richard Linklater’s A Scanner Darkly, Downey Jr named Disney’s 2006 reboot of The Shaggy Dog as the best job he ever had. Granted, this was before he donned the iconic red suit for the first time in 2008, but at this point in time, the actor still had a few critical and commercial successes under his belt. Films such as Natural Born Killers, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Gothika all predate the Tim Allen-led family comedy.
For those unfamiliar with The Shaggy Dog, there might be some vague awareness of the original films it’s based on, or perhaps a recollection of the scene where the dog punches a man in the face. The reboot follows district attorney Dave Douglas (Allen), who, after being bitten by a 300-year-old Bearded Collie, begins to involuntarily transform into a dog himself.
As I’m sure you can imagine, Dave turns into his canine alter-ego at many an inopportune moment, and hijinks are aplenty. Think Cujo without all the mauling and more slapstick. The film also earned the distinction of being one of the most unsettling posters of the last 30 years, and I could’ve happily gone the rest of my life without seeing Tim Allen’s eyes superimposed onto a dog.
Downey Jr’s role is that of Dr Marcus Kozak, the moustache-twirling villain of the piece who stole the ancient dog and launched a bid to take over the pharmaceutical company he works for. Allen’s character eventually thwarts him after he throws Kozak a baton in court, to which he responds by leaping for it like a dog before grabbing it in his mouth, revealing he had been experimenting on himself with the dog’s DNA. It’s not quite a dog punching a guy in the face, but it’s still not something I ever thought I’d see Tony Stark do.
So, why did Downey Jr choose this film as his most enjoyable? The star states that he “wanted to be in a Disney movie, and they offered it. Best job I ever had. The craft service is amazing.” Perhaps it’s indicative of the film’s quality that Downey Jr championed the production’s food and drink offerings above anything else in the actual film. The only reference he makes to the film’s content is when he mentions “that shot with the monkeys”. I don’t know which scene he is referring to, but by the sound of it, I’m sure it’s nothing short of pure Disney magic.
