Review of Iron Man 2

Iron Man: Ready For Round 2

 Sequels are funny things, they can either be complete and utter flops or they can take what was established in the first film and add something enjoyable to the mythos. Iron Man 2 falls into the latter category.

Set six months after the events of the first Iron Man film, Tony Stark played by Robert Downey Jr is enjoying being an icon as Iron Man as well as having 'successfully privatised world peace' by being a deterrent. Causing frustration to business rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), Senator Stern, who wants the Iron Man suit in the hands of the US Government and disgraced Russian physicist Ivan Vanco (played by Mickey Rourke) who is after revenge for the sins of Tony's father Howard Stark. Vanco constructs his own Arc Generator and becomes the villain Whiplash, going after Tony Stark, trying to prove that the Invincible Iron Man isn't as invincible as he thought he was.

Don Cheadle is War Machine

You'd think that would be enough plot to satisfy director John Favreau (who also plays Stark's chauffeur Happy Hogan) but no, he also plays on what initially looks like a plot thread from the Iron Man classic 'Demon In The Bottle' but is in fact a plot line from the 90's Iron Man comic series written by Kurt Busiek, which shows that Favreau and his writing team have really done their homework.

Scarlett as the deadly Nlack Widow.

Like the first film, Iron Man 2 has some fantastic funny moments such as a drunk Iron Man dancing along to Tupac's California Love or Happy Hogan sparring with new addition to the cast Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff. Speaking of new cast members, Terence Howard's replacement Don Cheadle delivers a much stronger performance as Lieutenant Colonel James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, playing the straight man to the laid back Stark, even getting his own armour dubbed War Machine. Rourke as Vanco/Whiplash is intense and Rourke really humanises him to the point where you almost feel sorry for Vanco with everyone pushing him around. Scarlett Johansson's role as Natasha Romanoff comes off a bit cold at times though that could be due to how little we see of her so there's not much chance to warm to her character however her action scenes as The Black Widow are really fantastic.

Samuel L. Jackson makes a return as S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury serving as a reminder that Iron Man is just one part of the Avenger's franchise, there are a few Easter eggs (including an after credits scene) which throws some nice teases pertaining to the next few films (Thor and Captain America) in the franchise. There are also a few little Easter eggs that relate to Iron Man himself such as the briefcase containing the Mark V armour.

Rourke as Whiplash

The action in Iron Man 2 has vastly improved from the first film in so much that there's more of it. There are periods where it feels like you are watching someone play Rock em Sock em robots and while a guy with whips as his main weapon doesn't look as intimidating as a large robot, the Monaco sequence is visually impressive and a highlight. The CGI elements are quite smooth though there are one or two moments in the film where the CGI looks a bit clunky,

While there are times where it feels as though Favreau has packed too much in, he balances the screen time between Downey Jr and Rourke well, though the rest of quite big cast get juggled around. Iron Man 2 blends its action and comedy well making it an enjoyable film we learn how Tony Stark relieves himself when he has the armour on, which while a bit childish is a definite laugh out loud moment. Let's just hope that the eventual Iron Man 3 doesn't go in the way of other Superhero trilogies.