Friday, May 28, 2010
By Abby Watkins
Staff Writer
Superhero movies are so rarely entertaining that decent additions to the genre, such as “Iron Man,” are destined to become hits with critics and audiences alike and raise the bar for every film that follows.
Viewers that liked the first “Iron Man” movie will most likely enjoy the sequel, but “Iron Man 2” does not exceed its predecessor. The excellent acting and tight action sequences that made the first movie fun are still there, but they are tempered by a fumbling script.
The plot of the current film begins much where the last movie left off. Irreverent billionaire Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has revealed himself to the world as superhero Iron Man and immediately begins to face opposition from all sides.
The U.S. government tries to confiscate Stark’s Iron Man suit so it can be used in the military; the “Arc Reactor” that keeps Stark’s heart beating is slowly poisoning him, and Russian scientist Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) has appeared to seek revenge on Stark Industries for the betrayal and eventual death of his father.
Downey’s performance as Tony Stark ties the entire movie together and allows it to transcend simple entertainment. He has a natural charisma that allows Stark’s arrogance to be charming instead of grating, and the emotional depth of his performance allows Stark’s vulnerability to shine through during key moments.
Scenes that border on boring are sustained by Downey’s compelling presence, allowing the movie to get away with more padding than it might have otherwise.
The film’s supporting cast is every bit as excellent. As Stark’s business rival, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) is perfectly odious; his verbal tics and strange mannerisms make every line hilarious. Gwenyth Paltrow has wonderful chemistry with Downey as Stark’s love interest, Pepper Potts, and Don Cheadle makes Stark’s best friend James Rhodes infinitely more likable than Terrence Howard did in the first movie.
The only really weak acting link comes from Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman, Stark’s new assistant. Her wooden delivery did nothing to help a character who was only a plot device, from her first second on screen through her role in the movie’s climax.
Where the first movie had a lean, neat script, “Iron Man 2” is all over the place.
The story’s multiple threads might have been sustainable if the writers hadn’t tried to shoehorn in a plot point that did nothing except foreshadow the movie’s sequel, “The Avengers,” which will contain different superheroes from the Marvel universe.
Comic book fans will be delighted when leader of the Avengers Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) appears to try to recruit Stark to the team, but ordinary audiences will inevitably be confused, just as they will be when Rhodes dons an Iron Man suit for no apparent reason. Valuable time that could have been used to flesh out the story is wasted with gratuitous Captain America references that are subtle as an anvil.
Most audiences, however, will only care that the action sequences are good and, on that front, “Iron Man 2” delivers. The most entertaining scene comes when Vanko attacks Stark in the middle of the Monaco Grand Prix, resulting in a well-paced frenzy of electrical whips and cars being cut in half that is far more inventive than most action sequences. The climactic sequence is cluttered but still visually satisfying, with sweeping aerial shots and plenty of explosions.
“Iron Man” has a ways to go before it becomes the best in its genre. Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” franchise still outpaces it in every way, from cinematography to dialogue to characterization. Despite this, “Iron Man 2” is definitely worth seeing, if only to watch Robert Downey Jr. have a lot of fun with his role. “Iron Man 2” is rated PG-13 and playing in theaters everywhere.
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