Guess what? Summer begins early, as it does with the year’s major blockbuster movies. Robert Downey, Jr. is back in action shooting to thrill, and let me just say, “Iron Man 2,” while not coming out blazing, still knocks last year’s hideous kick-start “Wolverine” out of the park.
Director Jon Favreau and his star Downey hit the jackpot two years ago with the release of “Iron Man.” Not only did it manage to be the year’s second biggest domestic hit, bested solely by “The Dark Knight,” but it inched past Spielberg’s return to “Indiana Jones,” and even managed to become one of the year’s best-reviewed films. Audiences loved it even more. With the release of Marvel’s second installment, the winning streak continues, but not nearly to the same effect.
“Iron Man” did the impossible. It blended moderately abundant action sequences into an impressive character study of Tony Stark, a weapons creator so self-absorbed and ignorant to the reality of the business he deals in. Upon a rude awakening, Stark changed his vision for developing the ultimate weapon, eliminating multiple trigger-fingers, and standing alone as the sole necessary weapon of the United States. “Iron Man 2” picks up where we last found Tony, only this time out, returning director Jon Favreau seems to be less interested in the thrills so predominant in the first outing.
In “Iron Man 2,” Stark has to take on the U.S. government, demanding that the Iron Man weapon be turned over to the military, as well as face off against multiple foes (Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke) trying to end his career and his life. His friendship with Rhodes (Don Cheadle) is tested, as is the sexual tension between him and Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). On top of that, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) starts hanging around to try and encourage Stark to stop fooling around and join the Avenger initiative. Add in the fact that his new secretary (Scarlett Johansson) seems to have a secret looming and the reality that Tony’s power source that keeps him alive also has potentially fatal side effects on his body–it seems the man sure has his work cut out for him. So much going on and so little intensity… But where’s all the kaboom??
It might be scary for fanboys to find out that “2” may have significant meaning in regards to the action on display in the film–the movie literally contains two action sequences to devour. Not to say that burdens Tony Stark’s latest adventure, but it does allow for the content of this installment to be swarmed by multiple subplots and characters that never really advance the story in an exciting way. Granted, this isn’t the cobbled mess that “Spider-Man 3” was, it just hasn’t the finesse of the film that preceded it. Since no one could describe this as “an action-packed thrill ride,” Iron Man 2 luckily has brilliant actors and a very solid director in Favreau to save it.
This movie is totally, completely and utterly about Robert Downey, Jr. Sure, we have all these great supporting actors, but every reason to see this movie rests upon the shoulders of a more-than-capable star portraying the single most interesting superhero character in the history of cinema. Yes, I said that. Who needs Bruce Wayne and his whiny-baby, cloak and dagger, angry teenager antics? Who cares if Peter Parker can’t figure out if he’s more capable as a human in love, a protector of New York, or an emo break-dancer? Who wants to waste their time wondering why Wolverine can’t get his claws together and tell his past to go find someone who cares? Tony Stark doesn’t play those games. Downey has a fully realized character–top-dollar hilarious and engaging. The movie goes for long stretches without things blowing up, and Downey manages to capture our attention with his inventiveness and brilliance as actor.
If the movie never reaches the level of the 2008 predecessor, it’s because the movie has a lot more down time and subplots. The studio seems so bent on bridging “The Avengers” movie two years out, that Stark’s story suffers, and the movie becomes overwhelmed with exposition and witty banter. At least it doesn’t kill the movie, and the action in the film really does deliver even in its limited doses. Even Favreau allows himself to have a little game time, upping his role in the film, and kicking some butt in the middle of the big finale. “Iron Man 2” may not be the film that ups the ante as far as sequels typically go, but the movie still manages to be plenty entertaining for two hours, and it contains a fully-realized hero that consistently breaks all the rules and dares to be wholly memorable. Even if fanboys are left wanting more explosions, I’m sure they’ll be satisfied with this outing and jazzed about the upcoming showdown.
Last 5 posts by Matt V
- Escape Plan - October 20th, 2013
- Captain Phillips - October 16th, 2013
- Gravity - October 15th, 2013
- Prisoners - October 15th, 2013
- World War Z - June 20th, 2013
First Iron Man was great, but much more in line with typical popcorn summer fare, and ultimately fell short of Dark Knight in my opinion. But you hit some good points in this review, and to be honest I was surprised that instead of upping the action quota Jon Favreau went for a much more dramatic turn instead. I was confused at all the subplots going on, and the romance between Stark and Potts didn’t really build up naturally to the hook-up at the end. It felt a bit contrived, really. But for me the main problem was the lack of a solid adversary. Whiplash seemed like an outstanding nemesis for Iron Man, but he spent most of the movie holed up in a fancy warehouse or pulling cheap computer hacking tricks. It made the ending showdown a little hollow. Here’s hoping the next movie (you did stay for the end of the credits, right?) knocks it out of the park.