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IRON MAN 2
Does Whatever An Iron Can

Director
Jon Favreau

Starring
Robert Downey Jnr.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Don Cheadle
Scarlett Johansson
Mickey Rourke

Iron Man really surprised everyone; no one predicted it would become the run-away success of 2008. Granted, I preferred The Dark Knight but so many readers challenged me over my rundown of 2008, surprised that I didn't rate Iron Man higher. The problem seems to be it raised it's own bar and with audiences fully aware of how brilliant the original was they simply expect sheer cinematic excellence. What does this actually mean? Well, very little other than a few randomly scathing reviews. As with all superhero sequels, the second film needs to outline events that turn the adoring, yet wholly fickle, public against said hero, or a close character element needs to persuade him to abandon his vigilante lifestyle. In a way, this film does just that but due to the nature of the character (narcissistic billionaire playboy Tony Stark, played once again by Robert Downey Jnr), he's already in the limelight all the time and the persona of Iron Man is just an extension of that ego; all of which allows the exploration of this character to go deeper than most films of this genre.

Set six months after the original, Iron Man 2 depicts a world largely at peace due to the deterrent weapon that is Iron Man. At the same time, other companies and countries are desperately trying to replicate the technology - all failing miserably - and the US military and certain Senators want Stark to surrender the plans immediately. The only real threat makes itself known at the Monaco Grand Prix, in the form of Ivan Vanko [Rourke], the embittered son of Howard Stark's (Tony's father, if you're a bit slow) former partner. Battling intrusion and interference on all sides, Tony must also contend with SHIELD operatives, competitive weapons designer Justin Hammer [Sam Rockwell], the loss of any respect from close friends Pepper Potts [Paltrow] and Col. Rhodes [Cheadle] and the fact that being Iron Man is slowly killing him.

So, is the sequel any good? Does it live up to its predecessor? Is it still fun? Ultimately, Iron Man 2 is more of what we've already seen. Whereas that may usually be interpreted as a negative point, this could not be further from the truth. This film is on a par with the first if not better -- the action is compelling and frantic but you can still see everything that's happening, the drama is tense and relevant, the comical aspects are sharp and entertaining, the visual and audio elements are impressive and immersive, the characters gel well together and the pace of the entire piece moves beautifully. Some critics may bemoan aspects of this release but in all honesty, Iron Man 2 is everything you could want in a sequel, building on what worked, shucking anything that didn't and promising more to come. Provided the Iron Man franchise can avoid the epic comic-adaptation pitfall of the dreaded 'third release', I can only hope for more wondrous things from this series.

Release Date:
UK - 30th April 2010
US - 7th May 2010

The Scene To Look Out For:
I said it in my reviews for both Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk but I love the idea of a Marvel Universe on film; a series of movies with different directors and subject material that share a common point of origin and crossover continually. A world in which the cameo is king - not so much acting cameos but character cameos. So, after much deliberation, I decided to settle on a scene that starts with Nick Fury [Samuel L. Jackson] handing Tony a case from his father that leads to Mr. Stark gaining a rare glimpse into the man he barely knew. The reason I've highlighted this is solely for the fact that living up to the expectations and the legacies of our fathers is a subtle underlying theme throughout this film that reminded me of the complex layering that adds to this movie's entire appeal.

Notable Characters:
I don't know how many exactly but in several reviews, I have started this section by stating that it's almost a given that the lead character is the most obvious choice. Iron Man 2 is nno different. This is Downey Jnr's film and without his distinct personality the character would be tedious and probably unbearable. But if we look to the sidelines, there are some truly amazing supporting roles. The dynamic between Potts and Stark is brilliant and as thankless as her role is, Gwyneth Paltrow is doing a wonderful job. Don Cheadle replaces Terrence Howard as Rhodes and although his character hasn't exactly changed, I prefer this combination. Sam Rockwell and Gary Shandling play their parts brilliantly and without true malice, making them both wholly unpleasant but almost forgivable. Scarlett Johansson and amuel L. Jackson play their SHEILD roles with actual purpose and consequence, rather than just a geeky nod to the fanboys. Most importantly though, Mickey Rourke is phenomenal; the man simply fails to disappoint. His portrayal of the vengeful Vanko is executed perfectly, imbuing him with drive without making him too flat and praiseworthy eccentricities without rendering the character a moustache-twirling, chortling buffoon.

Highlighted Quote:
"I built this for you, this represents more than people's inventions, this represents more than my life's work, limited by the technology of my time. I turn this over to you, with this you can change the future. What has always been and always will be my greatest creation is you"

In A Few Words:
"An extremely healthy follow-up finding a perfect middle-ground between action, comedy and drama"

Total Score:
9/10


Matthew Stogdon