Before I start to talk about the complete implausibility that is Tony Stark?s basement technology system, I should clarify that I?m a huge Iron Man fan. I saw the first one in theaters more times than I?d like to admit and time I watch a Robert Downey Jr. movie I envision him as Stark.
That being said, Iron Man 2 was highly enjoyable. It begins with Tony (Downey, Tropic Thunder) outwardly revelling in the glory of being the world-popular superhero Iron Man while inwardly dying of palladium poisoning from the arc reactor in his chest. As he sinks into self-destructive behavior as a method of coping with his last days on Earth, heavily-accented Russian, Ivan Vanko, played by Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), appears with a vendetta against his father that is (as is logical for super villains) randomly shifted onto Tony by proxy. On the sidelines, there?s Gwyneth Paltrow (Proof) Tony?s gratingly irritating assistant and love interest Pepper Potts and Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) as obsessed-with-the-military self-selected warden of Tony, Lieutenant Colonel James ?Rhodey? Rhodes.
Iron Man 2 is formulaic. If you liked the original movie, then you?ll like this one also. If you didn?t, then why are you watching the sequel in the first place?
It?s ridiculous, dramatic, fast-paced and completely fun to watch. Tony?s holographic, futuristic, three-dimensional touchscreen-run basement will make any self-respecting nerd drool, and the action scenes are as enjoyable as they are implausible. The ridiculousness doesn?t detract from a movie at all. If you?re voluntarily going to a movie about a super-rich, brilliant superhero in a gold-titanium alloy suit who blows up bad guys while spouting witty one-liners, you?re going to have a healthy ability to suspend your sense of disbelief.
As with almost every other superhero movie, there were a multitude of minor subplots. But unlike other films, these plot points all converge at some point. There are a few holes (how and when did Rhodey learn to fly the suit?) but overall, it isn?t difficult to follow the story.
The real high point is Downey?s charm. Downey has the dubious skill of making the most obnoxious, narcissistic man alive totally endearing. I suppose it would be possible to dislike him for being so arrogant, but his self-deprecating humor makes my annoyance for his character flaws melt away.
Paltrow doesn?t have the same acting chops. I can?t blame her for how self-absorbed and whiny her character is written, but she doesn?t do anything as an actress to win me over. Pepper always seems bitter for no reason, or for reasons that don?t justify her irrationally intense anger.
Then there?s Scarlett Johannson as assistant Natalie Rushman, aka the Black Widow. Her form-fitting cat-suit is bound to please any straight male in the audience and likely a few bi-curious females. Plus, she beats people up in fascinating ways that are slowed down just so her fans can probably appreciate her ?skill as an actress?. So that?s a win.
The movie had its problems, of course. The final confrontation between Tony and Vanko was built up so that the audience expected an explosion the size of Texas, but then the battle just ended. And the movie wasn?t rushed as some reviews have claimed ? in fact, it dragged at some places, especially during the exposition. As stated before, the movie had a similar formula as the first movie.
Iron Man 2 was worth seeing for anyone who likes charismatic actors, action sequences, hot chicks, witty one-liners and general awesomeness. If you don?t think you?ll like it, you probably won?t. But if you think you might, go see it. It?ll be worth it.