Monday, May 10, 2010

Iron Man 2 - B

In theaters. Rated PG-13, 125 minutes. Trailer.

Sometimes all sizzle and no steak is just fine. Such is the case with Iron Man 2, the much aniticipated follow-up to its wildly popular original (review here). Snarky comments, knowing narcissism, cool toys, great action scenes, and attractive female co-stars with just enough plot to get us through it. Robert Downey, Jr. is back as the cocksure Tony Stark, now thriving as Iron Man but suffering from the side effects of the energy core that keeps him alive. Ivan (Mickey Rourke), the Russian son of the man who helped Stark's dad create the technology behind Iron Man is out to seek vengeance for his father's dismissal. Click below for more on IM2:

Ivan surprises Stark with a similar 'power suit' with whips at an auto race in Monaco. Stark's chief competitor, Hammer Industries (led by a spot-on ridiculous Sam Rockwell) springs Ivan out of prison and has him work to create rival Iron Man suits. Stark struggles with his mortality, his relationship with his deceased father and his self-destruction. Scarlett Johannson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson all appear at varying intervals to provide straight men and women for Stark's schtick.

But, who cares? I love the action sequences and the AC/DC. Usually I hate CGI and loud, summer movies, but Director Jon Favreau has repeated his ability to make these sequences fun, thrilling, and somewhat realistic. I particularly loved the Monaco scene and the fighting scene in the white corridor with Favreau and Johannson. Cheadle is a massive upgrade over Terrence Howard, who he replaced.

This is an empty calorie meal, but it sure tastes good.

2 comments:

Doctor said...

I'll try to squeeze it in next week. Howard was the worst part of the last one and Cheadle is always great. This is probably a theater view for me because of Rockwell.

Priest said...

This gets a B for me as well. If the ending hadn't been so bloated, with so many bad guys, it might have gotten a B+. The supporting cast here is great, but it's Downey that makes the movie.