Iron Man shows team spirit

STARK CONTRAST: Billionaire genius Tony Stark had to learn to play well with others in The Avengers after two Iron Man films where he was the main attraction.

Billionaire genius Tony Stark had to learn to play well with others in The Avengers after two Iron Man films where he was the main attraction.

So did Robert Downey Jr., though his path to superhero team player came without the fisticuffs and rivalries that Stark stumbles into with his fellow Avengers, who beat up on one another a bit before they figure out how to work as a group.

Downey's had a long time to get ready for something beyond his close-up in the solo outings as Stark, the Marvel Comics superhero in a metal suit. The idea that Downey would become part of an ensemble of heroes was teased at the end of the first Iron Man, with Avengers producer and Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige steering such follow-ups as Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger toward that aim.

''I had five years to prepare myself, because Kevin Feige and the Marvel team had been saying that it was kind of heading toward this,'' Downey said.

In theatres now, The Avengers casts Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, head of peacekeeping agency S.H.I.E.L.D., which rounds up a dream team of good guys (Downey's Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth's Thor, Chris Evans' Captain America, Mark Ruffalo's Incredible Hulk and Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye) to battle Thor's evil brother (Tom Hiddleston), who plots to subjugate humanity.

While it's an all-star cast, Downey's the mega-star. But unlike the diva moments among Stark and some of the other alpha dogs of the Avengers, there was no big-footing among the performers, according to the actors and director Joss Whedon

Adjusting to ensemble life simply continued the path on which Stark and his healthy ego have been all along, Downey said.

''Personally, the Iron Man series so far has always been about making space for others and collaborating,'' Downey said. ''It's Tony's quote-unquote story, but it's always about all the folks we get around him who are kind of what make him interesting or give him someone or something to fight.''
 
Stitching together so many characters and story lines could have been difficult, but the communal structure meant no single actor had to carry the action all of the time.
 
Everyone took turns at center stage, and each got to take welcome breaks during the long shoot, Downey said.
 
''It was like a complicated pregnancy,'' Downey said. ''What was fun, this bit of WWE superhero tag-team wrestling, is where Hemsworth's all beat up and he's been shooting nights, and my character's got the helmet closed, so I'm not there. Then he's flying home to be with the missus, and I'm coming in to do a bunch of scenes with Ruffalo. I think everybody really bought into the spirit of the thing.''

Downey, 47, is preparing to shoot Iron Man 3, which is due in theatres in May 2013. The film reunites Downey with his Kiss Kiss Bang Bang director Shane Black.

He won't disclose details, but Downey said the next installment is a ''sort of storytelling that's really in Shane's wheelhouse, which is it doesn't need to be quite as linear, and Tony definitely is brought out of his comfort zone. So there's a lot of travel in this.'

A third Sherlock Holmes movie also is in the works, with Downey's great detective expected to travel to North America this time.

Amid his two film franchises, Downey's busy with a newborn son with his wife, producer Susan Downey, with whom he has formed a film production company.
 
It's uncertain whether Downey will be back as Stark after Iron Man 3, either in another solo film or a second Avengers tale. With his fourth Marvel flick getting under way, though, Downey said he feels he has a vested interest in the superhero business.

''It's dumb not to be open to possibilities, you know?'' Downey said. ''I kind of almost feel like a shareholder in the company, even sometimes more than an actor in the movies.''

- AP

Mulligan weds rock star boyfriend

British actress Carey Mulligan has tied the knot with her rock star boyfriend Marcus Mumford.

A host of stars, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Sienna Miller and Colin Firth, attended the bash on Saturday in Somerset, England.

Mulligan had eight bridesmaids, who wore turquoise, while Mumford's father - who is a vicar - married the happy couple on a remote farm.

The bride wore a plan ivory dress thought to be designed by Versace, with famed photographer Rankin taking the pictures.

Although the pair are yet to comment on their wedding day, it is thought Adele performed for them.

"Carey and Marcus are both huge fans of Adele and there will be millions of couples jealous that she is singing for them," a source explained.

"Adele has always wanted to work with Mumford & Sons so when Marcus asked her to play at his wedding she said yes. Adele has not been able to perform much at all since her throat op so it's a rare gig.

"It was meant to be a secret but the couple were so excited they've let it slip."

Mulligan asked Firth to speak at the reception, in a nod to his movie The King's Speech.

"She thought it would be funny to have the actor address the room," a source told British newspaper The Sun.

"Unlike his character in The King's Speech, Colin was a pro at the speech. He was his charming self and had the room in fits."

It is thought Firth and Mulligan became close during awards season in 2010, when they were both nominated for multiple prizes - Firth for A Single Man and Mulligan for An Education.

- Cover Media

Jamie Bowen's travelling chaos

BRIDGET JONES

Jamie Bowen is one of the comedians performing at this year's NZ International Comedy Festival.

Jamie Bowen is not your standard stand-up.

Just the way he describes his New Zealand International Comedy Festival show, Munfred Bernstein's Cabinet of Wonder, suggests something out of the norm.

"It's a story about a raconteur who has travelled around the world and collected a whole lot of curiosities, he sings songs about them.

"It's like watching your drunken musical uncle, wrestle and tackle a chaotic narrative."

The show, which opens this Saturday, was part of last year's festival before travelling to Adelaide for 30 back-to-back shows. 

It was inspired by Bowen's own habit of collecting things, rather than photographs, and as well as a crazy story, the one-man-production features Bowen singing, playing instruments and interacting with the audience. 

And while many comedians may cringe at the thought of hecklers piping up, Bowen encourages their input.

"I like a good challenge.  Not negative ones - I mean, don't come along with 'your mum sucks', you don't know my mum, you've just made a gross judgement, having never met my mother, that's uncool.  But come along and yell stuff out to Munfred, that's part of the show, it will be fun.

"Sometimes it goes really well and sometimes it completely derails the whole night, but then you get to spend the rest of the night watching me fumble and try and get it back."

Last year, the show was the very first recipient of the Creative Comedy Initiative fund, awarded to performers that push the boundaries and are "a little bit different to your usual stand up".

For Bowen, the cash injection meant he could devote more time, energy and resources to honing the show - he hired a rehearsal room, brought in a director to bounce ideas off and a script editor to tighten and tone the story.

And now, Bowen is on the hunt for a bit more cash.  He is one of three shows Rhys Darby and his wife Rosie are producing for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  The only problem is it costs around $1500 just to list each show in the programme, plus flights, accommodation and promotion.

The trio and the Darbys have set up a Pledge Me webpage - similar to one Taika Waititi ran to raise money for the US release of his movie Boy.

The aim is to raise $6000, with any donations over $5 welcome.

Munfred Bernstein's Cabinet of Wonder
April 28 - May 5 at Vault, Q
Tickets from Q Theatre.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Prince Harry 'wants reunion with ex'

Britain's Prince Harry is reportedly avoiding rumours that he's romancing singer Mollie King in a bid to win back his ex Chelsy Davy.

The 27-year-old royal is reported to be dating The Saturdays singer King after the pair met at a polo match back in 2010. Sources say Harry is eager to go along with the rumours in a bid to reconcile with his former girlfriend.

"It can't do Harry's ego any harm to be linked to such a gorgeous girl," an insider told British magazine more! "I wouldn't be surprised if he's using the rumours about Mollie to help Chelsy make up her mind and commit to him."

Prince Harry is reportedly finding the rumours linking him to King "intriguing". And the royal family member doesn't appear to be rushing to deny the reports.

"Mollie's gorgeous and blonde - she's just the ticket to help Chelsy realise she wants to be with Harry," the source added.

Prince Harry's long-term relationship with Chelsy Davy ended in 2009 after five years together.

The 26-year-old admitted that she didn't want official duties to carry out for the rest of her life.

King appeared in a radio interview yesterday with the rest of The Saturdays where she was cornered by the host about the reported romance with the royal.

A Justin Bieber song was played during the chat, with the presenter asking if the five-piece were fans of the Canadian sensation.

"Would you say Justin Bieber is the PRINCE of pop?" he asked Mollie, before she replied:  "I would say so yeah."

The radio host pressed: "Do you like prince of pops?" to which she replied: "I love Justin Bieber, he's amazing yeah."

- Cover Media

Robin Gibb has colorectal cancer

Bee Gees star Robin Gibb has advanced colorectal cancer and remains in intensive care after waking from a coma, his doctor said on Sunday. The statement confirmed the exact nature of the illness afflicting the artist.

Dr. Andrew Thillainayagam said Gibb had recently caught pneumonia because he was weakened from chemotherapy and two operations.

The 62-year-old singer fell into a coma last week after contracting the pneumonia. Thillainayagam said that three days ago he had warned Gibb's family that he may not wake up. Instead, Gibb is now fully conscious and able to speak.

Thillainayagam said Gibb is still in intensive care and is "exhausted, extremely weak and malnourished." He is breathing with the help of an oxygen mask and needs intravenous feeding and antibiotics.

"It is testament to Robin's extraordinary courage, iron will and deep reserves of physical strength that he has overcome quite incredible odds to get where he is now," Thillainayagam said in a statement.

He added: "Robin's wife, Dwina and son, Robin-John, his son Spencer and daughter Melissa have been at his bedside every day, talking to him and playing his favourite music to him. They have been tireless in their determination never to give up on him."

Gibb has been ill for several months and he cancelled multiple public appearances last year. He has said on his website last year that he had been seriously ill but did not give more details. He did tell the BBC he had a growth on his colon that was removed. Several media outlets have reported he has cancer.

The Bee Gees - British-born, Australia-raised brothers Robin, Barry and Maurice Gibb - had a string of disco-era hits including How Deep is Your Love and Stayin' Alive.

- AP