Robert Downey Jr. has returned to reprise his role as the cocky but oh-so-charming billionaire playboy Tony Stark in the follow-up to 2008′s Iron Man. Along with him come Sam Rockwell as rival arms dealer, Justin Hammer, Micky Rourke as Whiplash, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper, Favreu as Happy Hogan, Scarlett Johansson and Don Cheadle taking over Terrance Howard’s role as Jim Rhodes. All the players are here, but does Iron Man 2 prove the series’ invincibility? Read on to find out.
This time around Tony’s managed to bite off a bit more than he can chew. As the demands of Stark Industry continue increasing, the weapons manufacturer finds itself under new management. Tony also must also address the U.S. Senate regarding his right to the Iron Man suit after outing himself the first time around while also addressing his worsening alcoholism. Of course, these are only Tony’s challenges as Iron Man has his own threats to deal with, including the appearance of a madman who seems to have much of the Iron Man armor’s technology at his disposal and the continuing presence of S.H.I.E.L.D..
If that sounds like a lot for Tony to process, I’m afraid to say that it’s also a lot for the viewer to process. Not all viewers mind you, as fans of the comic can handle these twists and turns with ease. However, for newcomers it’s an awful lot to take in and I haven’t even captured all of it in this review. There’s a lot going on here to be sure and while the action, humor, and drama are all intact, it can still be disorienting. While all of these plotlines were likely included to serve as setups for the forthcoming Thor, Captain America and Avengers movies, it’s unfortunate that it crowds out a lot of the core story of Tony, opting to use the screentime to get viewers ready for other Marvel Franchises.
However, if you can get past some of the jaded story weaving, Iron Man 2 is a lot of fun. The action is top notch, with plenty of CGI candy to go around. We’re also treated to multiple iterations of the Iron Man armor, many of which fans will recognize instantly. Even the transition to the latest version of the armor is done with style and steeped in the hands-on approach that Tony takes to his gear over other super heroes. It’s smart, well written, and most importantly, well acted.
All of the characters Favreu has introduced to moviegoers enjoy a better chemistry this time around. I’d like to think that much of this can be attributed to the breakway success of the first Iron Man which was a big surprise for many. Just as the series is on its way to maturing, I believe so too that the actors within it have a deepened appreciation for the source material. It’s as if the cast has become accustomed to their roles in much the same way that Tony has become accustomed to donning the red and gold armor. Despite the over-the-top premise of many super hero movies, everyone from Downey to Paltrow seem to have a better grasp of the characters and lend a naturalness to it that those roles demand.
In the end, Iron Man doesn’t quite hit the mark of quality established by his debut, but the action is solid and there’s a distinct air of quality here that’s begging to be unleashed in Iron Man 3 even if this does feel like the framework upon which future Marvel outings will rest.
Iron Man gets a 7 out of 10.
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