Here we are for the first blockbuster film of the big money summer movie season with Iron Man 2. Jon Favreau’s first bout with the titular Marvel Comics character was such an overwhelming success both financially and critically that his return for the sequel certainly kept all eyes focused on the new tricks that he would have up his sleeve for the next installment. With front man Robert Downey Jr. still donning the suit with some new and old faces, does this big budget follow-up blow the doors down, or does Iron Man 2 fizzle out before it even gets going?
It’s not as good as the first one.
However, that does not mean that Iron Man 2 is a bad movie, it is actually a pretty good one. The first Iron Man was a great experience mostly because Favreau managed to evoke quality acting and character recognition from his actors while they were in front of the camera. Downey Jr. literally became Tony Stark in every sense of the character. The same can be said for Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and Terrance Howard as Rhodey. The action was well and all, but the character development and depictions truly stole the show. Iron Man 2 mostly relies on its budget to entertain its audiences this time around. This will probably irk some people who deeply loved the first, but you can’t deny that this installment is plain popcorn fun, though it does show a few blemishes that interrupt viewing pleasure once and awhile.
Iron Man 2 once again follows the antics of playboy turned superhero, Tony Stark. Since we last saw Tony, he has intervened in nearly every location of conflict around the world which has resulted in what seems to be a global ceasefire. Tony basks in the glory of his Iron Man persona as it has established military dominance in the world and all other countries are either lending support to the cause or they are desperately trying to create their own version to combat Tony Stark’s super-suit. Though he seems to be living high on his own success, he is secretly coping with life-ending symptoms that are the result of the arc reactor that powers his heart and the suit. Each time that he wears the suit, it burns more of the power source in his chest which leads to high blood toxicity levels and is inevitably going to culminate in his death. Oh and Mickey Rourke shows up as an angry Russian scientist who is seeking revenge against the Stark name with his very own arc powered suit that has whips of flame and danger! If this seems convoluted now then I do not know if you can handle the other five plot lines that revolve around this general one(s).
YAY:
- The actions sequences, though short, are really impressive. Perhaps they are not worthy of an IMAX release but they are damn good. Favreau has demonstrated the correct way of how to handle robotic machines slap and laser each other to death. Michael Bay please take note, THIS IS HOW YOU FILM ACTION SEQUENCES! WE WANT TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AT ALL TIMES!
- Robert Downey Jr. continues to kill it as the Tony Stark. Were you expecting something else?
- The artistic design is just as interesting as the original but with some particular amazing designs. Everyone saw the suitcase suit from he trailer but the Hammer drones, War Machine, Whiplash’s appearances, and especially Tony’s holographic filled lab that will send any nerd into uncontrollable seizures of jealousy.
- The comedy writing is pretty spot on once again. The quips and gags manage to be stand out but never outside nature of the characters.
- Look out for Captain America’s shield and a particular nod to the GOD OF THUNDER after the film’s credits.
NAY:
- Scarlett Johansson is just pointless and soulless throughout the whole movie. She plays the fan favorite femme fatale, the Black Widow, but lacks any sort of charisma that is associated with the character. Yeah, she does not have a Russian accent despite the fact that she is special agent from Russia, but Johansson literally has no point in the film whatsoever but to show off her cleavage and glutimus maximus. Favreau even points the camera at her assets whenever he can but it is understandable given that Megan Fox brings out troves and troves of horny bros and carnal voyeurs and that equals money. Black Widow’s action sequence is pretty cool but it blatantly is not Johansson on screen doing any of the moves. It is sort of laughable when you see a fit, and muscular woman doing the stunts and then when the scene subsides, the camera returns to a super petite girl that has no where near the athletic physique of the previous stunt double that kicked all that ass. It is just disappointing to see a film shoe in a sexual figure just so that a buck can be made. What happened to you Scarlett? You used to be a legitimate actress but now you just enjoy flaunting your business. No wonder Mickey Rourke has been running around saying he has respect for few big actors and actresses when people like you get put on screen for everything BUT talent.
- The plot is really all over the place and has some developments that have you saying, “wait, what?” In particular, I think that they could have destroyed the whole sickness/dying storyline that the movie spends its opening hour with only to be solved with the appearance of a particular friend who simply injects a short term solution into Tony’s neck. In a matter of a second, an hour of your time is wasted. It was just annoying as all hell.
Iron Man 2 is the quintessential way to kick off the summer blockbuster season. It may not be the astounding second installment that everyone wanted to see but it is a decent film in its own right that is adamant about keeping its audiences entertained. Things could be worse, much, much worse. For example, they could have sacrificed Pepper Potts’ love story with Tony for a fling with Johansson but thank god there are people with brains behind this flick. When all the bullets are fired and the explosions subside, you will walk out of the theater with all your action and nerd feelings fulfilled.
