Iron Man 2: A Bit Rusty but Still Solid (Review)

If you had told me three years ago that Robert Downey Jr. was going to become one of the most profitable actors in Hollywood, I never would have believed you. Back then, RDJ’s acting career had always seemed to take a back seat to his battle with drug addiction. Despite being cast in some top-notch films, if Downey’s name made headlines, it probably wasn’t for something positive. Today, this is no longer the case.

Two years, three enormous hits and a second Oscar nomination after the release of the movie that reignited his career, Downey returns for “Iron Man 2” and, for any fanboy of the first movie, one question lingers: Is this star-studded sequel possibly superior to the original?

Allow me to be blunt: It’s not.



“Iron Man 2” is a perfect example of why sometimes less is more. The film, stuffed with so many sub-plots it may as well have been called “Iron Man 2.5”, fails to live up to the standards set by the first film. As more characters are thrown into the “Iron Man” universe, the plotline becomes less intelligent, the villains become more clichéd, and the heroes become less developed. Basically, by delineating itself from the film’s original formula in an attempt to accommodate Stark into “The Avengers” series, the film has lost much of the appeal that made the first “Iron Man” so spectacular. In fact, “Iron Man 2” works less as a sequel to the surprise 2008 hit and more as a prequel to the 2012 smash, “The Avengers”. Frankly, I find that to be a bit of a disappointment.

However, that’s not to say all is bad in the world of Tony Stark. “Iron Man 2” boasts excellent performances from an all-star cast and some of the best action sequences of the year. In particular, Sam Rockwell (who I mentioned in my review of “Nightmare on Elm Street” last week as being one of the few actors capable of holding an entire picture together by himself) is great as Justin Hammer, a Stark competitor who’s determined to get Stark’s technology by any means necessary. In fact, seeing Rockwell dance to Average White Band’s “Pick Up the Pieces” at the Hammer Weapon’s Expo may alone be worth the price of admission – even if it is only for a few seconds.

Rourke, whose battle with drug addiction echoes that of Downey, also puts in a solid performance as Ivan Vanko, a Russian physicist bent on killing Stark to avenge the death of his father. (See what I mean by cliché?) Unfortunately, Vanko’s role is mostly limited to mumbling incoherent Russian phrases or laughing maniacally so Rourke never really gets to show much depth.

Other faces you may recognize include Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays the same whiny bitch from the first movie, and Scarlett Johansson, who is basically given an opportunity to let her cleavage hang out and perform some badass acrobatics. Personally, I can’t think of a better way to die than to have my neck snapped between Johansson’s thighs. Can you?

The only cast member whose talents are squandered here is Don Cheadle. Anyone who has seen “Hotel Rwanda” knows that he deserves more than a simple sidekick role. He’s far too talented.

Overall, “Iron Man 2” is well-acted and gorgeously choreographed but lacks a strong storyline and spends far too much time on pointless side-plots. If you’re looking for mindless entertainment, Jon Favreau’s latest addition to the Marvel Universe should be right up your alley. However, if you’re craving something with a bit more substance, I suggest you look elsewhere.

Rating: 2.5/4
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Next Week's Review: Robin Hood

In other movie news, “Saving Private Ryan” will be released to Blu-Ray disc for the first time this upcoming Tuesday. As one of the all-time greatest war films, “Saving Private Ryan” is a must-own for those who fortunate enough to have a Blu-Ray player.

Other new DVD releases include “Nine”, “Leap Year”, and “The Tooth Fairy” – none of which I recommend.