Why Pepper Potts isn't Pretty

The most frequent complaint I hear about the Iron Man movies, is that Gwyneth Paltrow isn't attractive enough to be Tony Stark's girlfriend.  Don't underestimate the value of an attractive damsel in distress and her affects on a young male audience.  Indeed, Emma Stone was probably the highlight of the new spider-man remake.

       Compared to Gwen Stacy or Lois Lane however, Pepper Potts in the Iron Man movies looks like a middle aged woman who does unhealthy amounts of yoga.  I think the fact that she is not a young supermodel however, is important to the Iron Man story and to Tony Stark's character.  Obviously the great Tony Stark has no trouble attracting beautiful women, so the fact the he decides to settle down with a more responsible and intelligent woman despite her plain appearance, is an important step in Tony's struggle to become a mature adult.

      I believe Shane Black decided to cast Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts  not just because she is a fantastic actor who can work well with Rober Downy Junior, but also because it adds a serious, believable depth to Stark's character.  That fact that the arrogant Tony Stark can fall in love with a woman who, by superhero movie standards, is ugly, goes to show that underneath the haughty demeanor Iron Man is actually a real human being who needs emotional support in a relationship.

       Oh yeah, and in general the movie was fairly good.