Iron Man 2 (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'Iron Man 2' has arrived in theaters. That means it must be May and the start of the Summer blockbuster season! 'IM2', directed again by versatile Jon Favreau, picks up shortly after the 1st film. Billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has been a singular force for world peace, settling a variance of global conflicts, & telling the world that he's the guy in the metal suit. Facing pressure from the military, the media, the public, & the government, he tries desperately to keep them all from knowing the key to his inventions. Why? Because he wouldn't want the secrets behind the Iron Man armor to fall into the wrong hands. However, with all of this going on, and in secret, Tony is suffering from palladium poisoning, due to the device that keeps his heart beating in his chest. Knowing that he could die, Tony figures that while he saves the world, he might as well go out with a bang - by drinking. Much partying ensues.
Knowing the end is near, he makes his assistant (& love interest), Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) CEO of his company, & "allows" his best pal, Lt. Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes (Don Cheadle), have a go at one if his spare metal suits. True to comic book form, Iron Man 2's plot gets involved with S.H.I.E.L.D. (a fictional espionage agency). And throughout the course of this story, we are introduced to a plethora of new allies & villains whom Tony must now contend with: a Tony Stark-like entrepreneur, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell); a Russian physicist, Ivan 'Whiplash' Vanko (Mickey Rourke), who's developed his own metal suit - with additions; Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), & Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson), who goes undercover as his new 'assistant'. Can Tony differentiate which of these characters are friends or foes? And will he survive it all given his weakened condition?
You know, the weakest aspect of 'Iron man 2' is its actual story - but I kinda dug the movie, anyway. I mean, it's not as terrific as the 1st film (because I tend to enjoy rich, character-developing origin stories), but I was entertained for 2 hours. When I say that the story is the weakest aspect, that is to say, what actually 'happens' in the film doesn't hold all that much importance (Tony Stark's personal problems, Ivan Vanko/Justin Hammer, an ushering in of the Avengers plot - for subsequent movies), but the way in which the myriad of characters massage the misguided 'storylines' makes it all go down easy.
Robert Downey Jr. is riding high lately (Zodiac, Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, Sherlock Holmes), & I couldn't be happier for him. What he has done for this franchise is genius: creating a funny, witty, rootable superhero who enjoys his superpowers. RD Jr. is an innately charismatic actor. He just knows how to deliver a biting line of dialogue. And for as often as he makes me laugh, & for as confident as he appears ... he also exudes such vulnerability. Gwyneth Paltrow is the perfect foil for RD Jr.; as she also has a great, dry wit. I craved more of their repartee. Scarlett Johansson is sexy as HELL, but as Natalie/Black Widow, I wish there was more for her to chew on. Mickey Rourke is a superb casting choice for Ivan/Whiplash, but like ScarJo, his excellence is stunted amid the busy plot(s). I love Don Cheadle (replacing Terrence Howard) but he felt a tad uncomfortable as Rhodey. Sam Rockwell nails the whiny, annoying Hammer; though, some of the scenes he's in lack energy. And though Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury feels superfluous, he should factor in more so with 2012's The Avengers.
The plot includes some odd conflicts (where the pace goes off, a few boring stretches), & there's a lack of surprises in the script. But ... the 3 action sequences (Monaco's Grand Prix, Tony's birthday party, & the climax at the Expo) are exciting, the cast is appealing, & Justin Theroux's dialogue crackles with wit, humor, & interest. This may be the type of film that goes over more with fanatics of the 1st film than casual viewers who liked 'Iron Man', but I enjoyed 'Iron Man 2' because matters are, for the most part, kept light. I laughed, I grinned, my pulse raced, & it's not a 'dumb' movie - if only a better story came from it; one that didn't feel so much like a bridge btwn. the 1st film and a 3rd. Overall, 'Iron Man 2' is an example of good entertainment, not good artistic cinema. But I'll take it.
Knowing the end is near, he makes his assistant (& love interest), Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) CEO of his company, & "allows" his best pal, Lt. Col. James 'Rhodey' Rhodes (Don Cheadle), have a go at one if his spare metal suits. True to comic book form, Iron Man 2's plot gets involved with S.H.I.E.L.D. (a fictional espionage agency). And throughout the course of this story, we are introduced to a plethora of new allies & villains whom Tony must now contend with: a Tony Stark-like entrepreneur, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell); a Russian physicist, Ivan 'Whiplash' Vanko (Mickey Rourke), who's developed his own metal suit - with additions; Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), & Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson), who goes undercover as his new 'assistant'. Can Tony differentiate which of these characters are friends or foes? And will he survive it all given his weakened condition?
You know, the weakest aspect of 'Iron man 2' is its actual story - but I kinda dug the movie, anyway. I mean, it's not as terrific as the 1st film (because I tend to enjoy rich, character-developing origin stories), but I was entertained for 2 hours. When I say that the story is the weakest aspect, that is to say, what actually 'happens' in the film doesn't hold all that much importance (Tony Stark's personal problems, Ivan Vanko/Justin Hammer, an ushering in of the Avengers plot - for subsequent movies), but the way in which the myriad of characters massage the misguided 'storylines' makes it all go down easy.
Robert Downey Jr. is riding high lately (Zodiac, Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, Sherlock Holmes), & I couldn't be happier for him. What he has done for this franchise is genius: creating a funny, witty, rootable superhero who enjoys his superpowers. RD Jr. is an innately charismatic actor. He just knows how to deliver a biting line of dialogue. And for as often as he makes me laugh, & for as confident as he appears ... he also exudes such vulnerability. Gwyneth Paltrow is the perfect foil for RD Jr.; as she also has a great, dry wit. I craved more of their repartee. Scarlett Johansson is sexy as HELL, but as Natalie/Black Widow, I wish there was more for her to chew on. Mickey Rourke is a superb casting choice for Ivan/Whiplash, but like ScarJo, his excellence is stunted amid the busy plot(s). I love Don Cheadle (replacing Terrence Howard) but he felt a tad uncomfortable as Rhodey. Sam Rockwell nails the whiny, annoying Hammer; though, some of the scenes he's in lack energy. And though Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury feels superfluous, he should factor in more so with 2012's The Avengers.
The plot includes some odd conflicts (where the pace goes off, a few boring stretches), & there's a lack of surprises in the script. But ... the 3 action sequences (Monaco's Grand Prix, Tony's birthday party, & the climax at the Expo) are exciting, the cast is appealing, & Justin Theroux's dialogue crackles with wit, humor, & interest. This may be the type of film that goes over more with fanatics of the 1st film than casual viewers who liked 'Iron Man', but I enjoyed 'Iron Man 2' because matters are, for the most part, kept light. I laughed, I grinned, my pulse raced, & it's not a 'dumb' movie - if only a better story came from it; one that didn't feel so much like a bridge btwn. the 1st film and a 3rd. Overall, 'Iron Man 2' is an example of good entertainment, not good artistic cinema. But I'll take it.