Iron Man 2 was directed by Jon Favreau and released earlier this year (2010), two years after the insanely popular first film. While this one has proved to be a crowd -pleaser it doesn’t quite measure up to the first in hype, but it comes close. I personally have not seen the first movie, though if it was anything like this one chances are I wouldn’t enjoy it very much. So if you think you’re in for another rave review of one of America’s current favorite superhero films, think again! That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the film entirely. There was a lot of cool action, I like Micky Rourke, etc… but for the most part, it was pretty forgettable. The only thing I’ll say about Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson, is that while I love them in other kinds of films, I didn’t really care for them in this one. I just don’t think they fit in a comic book movie.
Begin spoilers-
Towards the beginning of the film we’re treated to a grand introduction. Iron Man is flying through the air with fireworks to “Shoot to Thrill” by AC/DC. He lands in the middle of the stage at the Stark Expo amid pyrotechnics and sexy dancing rockettes galore. As he’s walking off the stage he passes lots of fans and people trying to vie for his attention. They use a really cool point of view by having the camera act as his eyes as he looks through the crowd. It’s not the first time that’s been done but it’s still interesting to see. That’s all well and good but then he walks past this girl, the camera looks down at her breasts and he says “I remember you.” It just makes me go “ick”.
Next he is subpoenaed to a senate armed services committee hearing, where the military guys basically want the technology Tony Stark has because other countries are copying the Iron Man suit and they want to make their own too. At the end of the hearing Tony proves that the other countries are years behind in their research, that America is safe, and no, the government can’t take his property. But, he says, “I did you a big favor…… I have successfully privatized world peace.” I think we all know what happens when you try to privatize a public commodity…. After all of Tony’s grandstanding Senator Stern hilariously says “Fuck you Mr. Stark. Fuck you buddy.”
After that scene we get to see a preview of Ivan Vanko’s (Mickey Rourke) new suit. Ivan’s plan is to attack Tony at the Monaco Grand Prix which Tony is racing in. This is my favorite scene in the movie. I like that it’s not a typical setting to see a showdown and I love Ivan’s suit as well. While I know there’s no such thing as a “typical” villain, there just seems to be something fresh and not often seen in comic book movies about Ivan’s electric arms whipping out punishment. I also adore Mickey Rourke, I think he’s extremely versatile and has a gift for transforming himself into completely different characters. His entrance is bad ass with him walking onto the racetrack into incoming traffic with his uniform top burning off of him as his suit powers up. I also have to say, I know Mickey Rourke is a big guy but here… he looks huge. The only bad thing about him is I think his accent is completely off the mark. In his defense, I think Russian accents are really hard to mimic.
Later, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) asks Ivan to help him create technology like/to rival Tony Stark’s. I’ll tell you what I hate about this scenario. The “refined guy” appeals to the “rough strong guy” for help or to join forces against the hero. Its been done again, and again, and again, and again……. gag me.
Besides Mickey, I also love Don Cheadle. When Tony starts getting out of hand at a party Don “dons” one of Tony’s Iron Man suits and says to the crowd “I’m only going to say this once – get out.” To Tony he says “You don’t deserve to wear one of these. Shut it down.” Then an awesome battle between friends in Iron Man suits ensues… to the beat of Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust”. This is only a prelude to the bigger fight at the end of the film. Ivan remotely controls the suit that Don Cheadle is wearing in an attempt to kill Tony. The action is great and Don’s performance trying to warn Tony of his next moves is spot on. By the way – best quote of the movie? At the end when Tony and Pepper are kissing Don Cheadle says, “You look like two seals fighting over a grape.”
End spoilers-
While I mostly talked about the few things I liked from this film, the rest of the movie sucked or was pretty forgettable. It’s not likely that I would choose to watch this movie again of my own accord. Although, if you’re like the vast majority of people who’ve seen this film… you’ll probably love it! So be sure to check it out… at least once.
The Movie Lady
themovielady@comicattack.net
Tar and feather me, but I agree with you.
I thought this movie was pretty dang boring, especially considering all the hype around it. It was too much of Robert Downey Jr. going “Hey! I’m Iron Man! Hey guys look at me! I’m a rich guy!” as opposed to having any real substance to it. Also, how many scenes did we need of Rourke sharpening something?
Yeesh.
Hey I have an idea movie lady, how about you see the first film before you talk about the sequel. You can’t possibly write a thought out review about the second movie if you haven’t seen the first!
Fair enough.
But at the same time it is “Iron Man 2” and not “The Two Towers” or something…it’s not like one would have difficulty formulating an educated opinion about this film without having seen the first movie. This article is a case in point.
It was kind of meant to be that way, right? To attract a new audience?
Besides, in reading the review it seems like The Movie Lady was able to grasp the concept of the film pretty clearly, and the criticisms overall make sense. Like I said, I didn’t really care for Iron Man 2 either…and I’ve seen both movies!
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Ummm…if a movie can’t stand on it’s own merit then yeah it sucks, and in her OPINION it sucked. Just because a person sees a sequal first doesn’t discredit their feelings and views about it.
However I will say the 2nd movie did fail in some areas where the first movie excelled storywise. Though I don’t think we’re ever meant to LIKE Tony Stark because he’s that arrogant assclown but he’s also a hero and that’s where Iron Man comes in. I’ve always thought that since reading the comics as a kid but ah well.
I liked all of the easter eggs scattered in the film especially towards the end with Tony and Fury in the room while all of the reports were going on and of course if you waited until the end of the credits you got a little something extra!
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…MovieLady, I think you have a secert crush on RDJr. You wish it was you kissing him at the end, and not Pepper. lol
I liked this movie but didn’t love it. I find Robert Downey Jr’s portrayal to be way too pompous without the depth of the troubled man we all know Tony to be. My non-comic fan friends are very surprised when I tell them that Tony is an alcoholic. That’s really not touched on in these films at all, though we do see him drinking, I don’t think the uninitiated would walk away thinking he’s got a problem with it.
Its almost like the movie makers only want to deal with the tech and not the humanity, which is ironic because growing up, I always leaned to the Marvel universe because the characters had more depth and humanity, (in my opinion) than those in the DCU at that time. Again, you wouldn’t know that from a movie like this. I thought it was all action and not enough story telling about the people themselves.