This is the first movie I have seen in weeks because the pickings are so few. Here’s my take on Jon Favreau’s sequel to his Iron Man, featuring Robert Downey, Jr. and an all-star cast.
Iron Man 2 (Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg) — The first Iron Man movie surprised me with its witty charm, layered characters, and excellent story line. Robert Downey, Jr. was surprising as rich, arrogant, cocky do-gooder Tony Stark. Stark is back in the sequel, just as egotistical but not as invulnerable. His blood toxic level is rising fast, and he is in danger of dying if he can’t find a new element to place into his heart. Meanwhile, a Russian physicist, Ivan Vanko (played by Mickey Rourke, looking a lot like a Wrestler), is catching up to Stark’s research. Vanko believes that Stark stole his Iron Man suit from his father, and he is out to settle a score. But his research appears to be underfunded.
So we need a bad guy, a rich manufacturing executive who views Stark as a rival. Enter Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), who has been working with a headline–seeking senator (Gary Shandling in a miscastment of epic proportions) to force Stark to turn his suit and research over to the government. Hammer sets Vanko up with unlimited resources and a simple charge – make an armed forces of robots with armor superior to Stark’s. Now you have the plot. The movie is really about special effects. Vanko and Iron Man fight to the death, all while Stark is trying to find his new element. His friend and ally is Lieutenant Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes, who Stark likes but doesn’t always trust. Cheadle goes Iron Man, too (or is that, 2).
As super-hero, comic book movies go, this is a fine one. It isn’t as much fun or original as the first one, and suffers the significant flaw of being more about the special effects and machines than about the people. The eye candy is sweet, too, but there is substance to both Stark’s right hand, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow, in a bigger, more substantial role than in the first film), and new legal assistant, Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson, looking thinner than in previous films). Natalie is more than she appears at first (no surprise) but she and Potts strike an odd alliance as Tony goes underground and possibly rogue.
The principals play this for fun. Director/actor Jon Favreau knows what he has here and uses his stars wisely even if he relied too heavily on the effects and graphics. Iron Man 2 will exceed the original in box office but isn’t quite the triumph of the original film. It is definitely worth watching and the investment of two action-packed hours. And, just like the first movie, stay until the end of the credits to see the set-up for Iron Man 3.