Iron Man 2

2010’s Iron Man 2, directed by Jon Favreau.

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johanssen, Garry Shandling, John Slattery, Clark Gregg, and Samuel L. Jackson. 

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright, and Daniel Sudick).

What is it about?

Iron Man 2 returns Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) as the man in the metal suit. After announcing to the world his secret identity at the end of the first film, we see him promoting himself and his company’s goals (but mostly himself). Taken to court by an American senator (Garry Shandling) to share the secrets of his technology, Stark also has to deal with a Russian inventor (Mickey Rourke) who becomes the villain Whiplash, with Iron Man-like technology. Financed by a huckster of the arms/defence industry (Sam Rockwell), Whiplash aims to get revenge on Stark. With Stark hampered by an illness that will kill him if untreated, will he be able to survive sickness, Whiplash’s sting, and his own ego?

Why is it worth seeing?

Iron Man 2 is a must see for anyone who enjoyed the first film. Favreau returns behind the camera, and injects more flighty sarcasm, guitar hinged montages of machines being built and tightened, and dudes in metal suits fighting. With the origin story out of the way, part 2 is about expanding on the Marvel Cinematic Universe by introducing the spy agency, S.H.I.E.L.D. (nobody cares about the acronym’s meaning), and its agents.

Unfortunately, Justin Theroux’s script is unwieldy- as it goes in too many directions and has to pack in a few too many characters and fight scenes. While Mickey Rourke is a fine actor (although apparently not asgood as Sean Penn), his destructive Russian character’s arc has to contend with Sam Rockwell’s similarly antagonistic snake oil businessman, as well as the introduction of kick ass supporting characters (Don Cheadle capably replaces Terrence Howard and finds some weapons of his own, while Scarlett Johanssen has an stunning debut as an espionage agent who can both placate Tony and carve up her opponents in pseudo BSDM wear). That, and drones who make excellent Storm Trooper fill ins.

All of that’s before we get to the true villain of part 2- Tony’s ego. It’s amazing how much Tony’s arc follows the macro themes of the movie’s development itself. A guy who used to be great starts to buckle under expectations, and struggles with balancing all of its dynamics- and needs to learn how to focus on the simpler things. Not that part 2 can’t be faulted for trying, its just that it doesn’t have the great villain, focus, and simplicity that part 1 did. But Marvel was more interested in the action scenes, and the end game, as it starts to introduce multiple characters and franchises into an experiment never before done in film history. That kind of ambition can weigh as heavily as Thor’s Hammer.

Rating:

3/5

Trailer: Click Here.