Movie Review: Iron Man 2 - Iron Man Set On Autopilot

Movie: Iron Man 2
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle.


Let me say first that I didn't see the first Iron Man  until it came out on DVD but when I did see it I was very surprised. Here was a comic book adaptation for people who were tired of comic book movies. The hero was not perfect, had a big ego, enjoyed drinking and women. He was the opposite of Tobey Maguire's Spider-man. It was entertaining to see this character face his past, humble himself and became a hero.

The problem with the second movie is that we have essentially the same story.
The characters and storyline have not really changed. Tony Stark is still an egotist, loves drinking and women and needs to humbled to become a true hero. It was entertaining the first time around but now it just feels lazy. Not to say the movie is wholly terrible. Robert Downey Jr does well with the snarky, arrogant lines given to him. Even though I'd have thought his character was supposed to have grown up a little bit from the first movie. Mickey Rourke does a good job as Stark's new nemesis Ivan Vanko. He is at his best when trading lines with the weaselly head of Hammer Industries, one of Stark's rivals. Although his backstory is never full explained Rourke does a good job of really giving this guy a true personality. We almost come to like him by the end of movie.

Since they are telling basically the same story again the creators try to distract the audience with unnecessary side stories and characters. Most notably is Scarlett Johanson as agent Romanoff and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Honestly Johanson is really only used as eye candy for the audience. She has no personality and doesn't add anything to the film. Then we have Samuel L. Jackson in overacting mode trying to sell tickets to The Avengers. Which based on these two performances would be a movie to avoid like the plague. In another silly turn Iron Man gets a new sidekick which just feels kind of goofy.

Overall if you were a big fan of the original go ahead and see it but don't expect it to be better than the original. If you were a casual fan of the first then make it a rental night. You can buy Iron Man 2 on DVD or Bluray from our shop.