Imagine the future where human boxing is replaced by steel robots. In “Real Steel”, you can actually see it live. There are robots pitted against other robots which are pre-loaded with computers and are controlled with hand-held ‘joy sticks’.

‘Bots’ are made with color and design and once on their backs, can be like a turtle. Rendered helpless. No price tags are given in assembling these bots, but you know it isn’t cheap. These are glamorous steel machines that you get attached to like a real person you would root for. I know I did with at least two of the robots. I lost, but it was still an adrenalin rush.

The film stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a former boxer who knows a thing or two about boxing, and how to win. He tours with a worn out robot who eventually is retired by a real bull. A touch of Transformers? Maybe, but it still works. Remember 1999′s Brad Bird’s “The Iron Giant”? It was a wonderful animated movie about a boy befriending an Iron Giant that had fallen from the stars, with Vin Diesel voicing the giant.

This reminds me of that classic in a lot of ways but is not associated with the film. These robots are not 50 feet tall and are not aliens. They are assembled auto parts made for boxing. The competition is stiff and the outcome is shattering for the bots.

Dakota Goyo is Charlie’s absent son (Max) who is into video games, as a smart preteen. Due to some debts not paid, Charlie has a few enemies he can do without, but hides them from Max and who he is even sometimes mean to him. But, Max loves robots and after Max stumbles upon a washed-up robot (Atom) in a junkyard, the game suddenly changes for his dad.

The stakes kept getting higher as Charlie continuously upped the ante with each fight. But pit Aton against Zeus, a mean fearsome Muhammad Ali of robots in the grand finale, you have a contest. With Max at the controls and Charlie doing Avatar MapQuest, this is a family film to stand up and cheer for.

Director Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum” movies)delivers a TKO with his latest effort here. But, I don’t know if it’s Charlie, Max or Atom, who “Steels” the show. Atom certainly socks a punch and has a handsome, steel muscular body, steelin’ this rock-’em-sock-’em-robots film. The animatronics are superbly mastered here and did you know, Sugar Ray and Steven Spielberg had a hand in making this film possible?

“Real Steel” is a real good movie that has real characters you get attached to, even if they aren’t real. And you cry real happy tears. Atom will become a household name just like “The Iron Giant” did,(if you’re old enough to remember it). It probably will not make it to the big dance in late Feb., but will remain in our hearts for many a long time. You will be pleasantly surprised, as I was.

“Real Steel” is a Dreamworks PG-13 film and is based by a short story “Steel” by Richard Matheson. It clocks in at a very entertaining 127 minutes, and opens in theaters everywhere in 2-D (yes) October 7. 2011.

By Hustlin Bob Higgins 4 stars