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The Family Reel Movie Reviews
Now Showing on The Family Reel with Christopher Echols
Iron Man 2
2008 brought quite a surprise for filmgoers as the release of “Iron Man” helped Robert Downey Jr. solidify himself as a box office rock star and made Marvel’s hi-tech hero a household name. Now, 2 years later, “Iron Man 2” looks to crank the volume up on the action, supporting cast and continuing roller coaster lifestyle of billionaire industrialist Tony Stark and his metal-man alter ego. True, the initial “wow” factor has worn off since the original made us believe another man can fly, but this franchise still has plenty of juice left to power this and future sequels.
Amidst the revelation at the end of the first film that Tony Stark was indeed the man behind the red and yellow battle suit, “Iron Man 2” gives us a glimpse at a world more at peace as any threats foreign and abroad have been halted by this one man army. Reveling in his celebrity status, yet also facing a horrific side effect from the arc reactor empowering him, Tony strives to change the legacy of Stark Enterprises and erase the memories of destruction brought about by their prior history in weapons manufacturing.
Although the film primarily belongs to Downey Jr.’s charismatic Stark, the supporting cast is rounded out by A-list actors with storylines all their own. Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell form an unlikely pair of adversaries as Ivan Vanko, a.k.a. Whiplash and Justin Hammer respectively. Vanko is a man bent on revenge for what the Stark family did to him and his own, and Hammer is a bitter rival of Tony’s who possesses all of his egomaniacal tendencies but none of the charm.
Gwyneth Paltrow returns as Pepper Potts, but her duties have been elevated from personal assistant to CEO of Stark Enterprises. Along comes Scarlett Johansson as Tony’s new right hand who may have deeper intentions than just fetching his coffee and coat. Taking over the role inhabited in the first film by Terrence Howard, Don Cheadle gives more depth to Stark’s pal James Rhodes and makes modifications to an old incarnation of Iron Man armor as it becomes prevalent that Tony can’t fight forever as a lone wolf.
True, this sounds like a handful of storylines coming at you at once, but director Jon Favreau knows how to balance out his actors and gives ample time for each plot to build realistically. Nothing feels truly rushed and the action pieces are set up with drama that makes them worthwhile and not just filler scenes of explosions and noise. In a film this big there does seem like more development could have been given to some of the smaller roles, but at 2 hours it’s a pretty concise picture in itself without overstaying its welcome.
In the same vein as Superman 2 and Spider-man 2, this sequel lives up to the hype created by the first and gives us enough of a reason to come back for a third helping.
By the way·stay after the credits. It’ll be worth it.
Grade: A-
Posted on 07 May 2010 by Woodlands Family Magazine
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