The massive success of 2008's Iron Man guaranteed a sequel. Its combination of action, special effects and charming lead made it one of the most entertaining movies of that year. With nearly the same team in front and behind the camera, this second installment delivers more of the same. This second go-round is as much fun as the first.

Unlike most superhero movies, where the big draw is the action and superpowers, the Iron Man films rely much more on the charisma of their lead. Robert Downey Jr. and his cocky charm are what make these movies so great. As with the first film, I enjoyed the scenes with Tony Stark more than I did the scenes with Iron Man. He's funny, cocky and charming, but still fallible. It might be encased in metal and powered by battery, but his heart is still very human. Where I might leave a Superman movie wishing I was Superman, when I leave an Iron Man movie, I wish I was Tony Stark.

The story picks up six months after the first film. Iron Man has been a huge success and managed to help keep world peace. Not all is peaches and cream however, as the U.S. Government wants Stark Industries to hand over the Iron Man Project to them, Tony is dealing with blood poisoning caused by his suit's power source and a Russian physicist, Ivan Vanko (Rourke) wants revenge against Tony because of bad blood between his father's and Tony's.

Returning from the first film is Gwyneth Paltrow as Tony's assistant, Pepper Potts. Pepper and Tony still share a certain chemistry together and their relationship progresses despite the inclusion of Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman, an employee of Stark Industries with some secrets of her own.

The villain Iron Man must face is yet again someone else wearing an armored suit. Just because Iron Man wears one, does every villain he face have to wear one too? I mean Spider-man doesn't just fight villains in bug costumes. The whips Ivan uses do make for pretty cool accessories though.

While the final climactic battle is well done, overall the movie is light on action. There are really only three separate action sequences. But then, as I said, Tony Stark is the real main character, but if you're expecting large battles, you might be disappointed.

The supporting cast is all capable although clearly they are playing second-fiddle to Downey Jr. Don Cheadle steps seamlessly into the role of Rhodey, following Terrence Howard's disagreements with the producers over money. Johannson looks good and manages to kick-ass in a short scene near the end of the movie. Sam Rockwell also gives a nice turn as a competing arms manufacturer. Rourke makes for a rather dull villain though. He speaks maybe ten lines in the whole movie and is possibly the weakest portion of the story.

Although it might not break any new ground, Iron Man 2 entertains, if not more, than at least as much as the original. So long as Robert Downey Jr. keeps suiting up, I'll keep lining up to see him do it.

↑Back to Top↑

Stark is funny, cocky and charming when he is sharing quips and one-liners with someone. His Daddy issues, his health problems and his drinking humanize him, but they are the dullest parts. I wanted more action and less contemplation.

There was certainly room for it. We do not need to see Ivan Vanko build his weapons in Russia. We do not need to see him deal with is dieing father. We do not need to see him get a passport. His first scene should have been at the race in Monaco. Stark figures out who he is later anyway.

The Black Widow is under used. She has one good action scene. Favreau nearly ruins it by inserting himself into it with a punch-line that I whispered to my son 5 seconds before Favreau says it. I thought the story was going to divulge that she and Vanko had a history, as they are both Russian. That would have amped up her storyline, but alas her entire role is to play observer, and report to Nick Fury. "Mr. Stark displays textbook narcissism." Come on, we already know they want him.

They forsake her story line as merely a way to introduce another potential member of The Avengers. Besides Black Widow, look for a suspiciously familiar half completed shield in Stark's lab. Make sure you stay after the credits, or just look on line, for a 50 second clip introducing still another Avenger.

Stark is an entertaining character when he is "on". It just does not happen enough. He shares a few good moments with a Senator, and a couple with Pepper. His best scene is when he is talking to Hammer and an attractive reporter. It is full of sexual innuendo, but only Stark seems to pick up on it. For some reason, they cut the scene from the commercials where Pepper throws the helmet out of the plane and Stark tells Pepper, "You complete me!" Those are the moments that make Stark likable, not the ones where he sits alone in his lab working on his equipment.

↑Back to Top↑