Robert Downey Jr. returns with heart and pizzazz as Iron Man 2’s comic book action hero. Downey plays Tony Stark, billionaire playboy industrialist who relishes his role as global troubleshooter and guardian of the nation’s safety.
While Stark wants to remain an independent do-gooder, both Congress and his friend Lt. Col. Jim Rhodes (Don Cheadle) press him to sell his technology to the government.
Dramatic tension builds early as we discover that the nuclear powered device keeping Stark alive is also poisoning his blood. The circular disc over his heart is failing, and only the discovery of a new element strong enough to power it will save Iron Man.
Mickey Rourke beautifully develops bad guy Ivan Vanko, a Russian physicist whose father first developed the Iron Man technology. Vanko feels that he, not Downey, is its rightful heir. Rourke brings to Vanko pathos and sensitivity (he’s very fond of his white cockatiel). With growling determination, he pursues Downey at a Monaco racetrack, electrical whips crackling from his gladiator garb.
In an unpleasant surprise, talented Gwyneth Paltrow mars Iron Man 2 as shrill, hormonally raging Pepper Potts, Downey’s love interest turned Type A CEO of Stark Enterprises. Paltrow’s tiresome stereotype detracts from the film. There is scant chemistry between her and Downey.
Luckily Paltrow’s circumspect assistant Scarlett Johanssen steals the show as Natalie, also known as secret agent and martial arts expert Black Widow. It’s Johanssen who reaffirms our faith in strong women heroines in action thrillers.
As the story continues, Cheadle gets to soar and wage combat in an Iron Man suit. Samuel Jackson is excellent as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Nick Fury, perhaps the only person who can keep Downey’s ego at bay, at least for a few moments. Sam Rockwell struts about as a rival industrialist who recruits Rourke to garner a lucrative government contract.
Iron Man 2 features plenty of metallic clashes and laser shootouts, along with spectacles such as Tony Stark’s expo at the former World’s Fair Grounds in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York. Overall director Jon Favreau has crafted a fitting opening to Summer 2010’s action thriller season. Good acting raises the bar in Iron Man 2.
Iron Man 2 2010 / NR / 2 hrs, 4 min
Cast Overview: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson
Director: Jon Favreau
Genres: Action and Adventure, Comic Book and Superhero, Action Thriller
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