IRON MAN 2
It took me a while to finally get around to reviewing this film due to how much it disappointed me. I had such high hopes for this movie, since "Iron Man" is my 2nd favorite Comic Book Movie and one of the best CBMs of all time. This sequel was good but just not good enough. I was going to wait until I'd had a chance to see it a second time but here goes...
Main Problems I had with "Iron Man 2":
1. The score: The score by composer Ramin Djawadi from the first film was excellent and I don't understand why it wasn't used again. The original music in this film was lame and didn't complement what was going on. Sometimes music can make or break certain sequences in an action/adv movie, this movie is one of those cases.
2. The writing: I liked the blend of action/sci-fi, comedy, and drama from the first film but this one was a bit too lighthearted. The subplots [while interesting] seemed a bit forced. The character development could have been better. Screenwriter Justin Theroux [whose only screenwriting credit was the brilliant comedy "Tropic Thunder" which he co-wrote with Ben Stiller & Etan Cohen] should not have been hired to write this movie, I'm guessing the only reason he got the job is because Robert Downey Jr. [who starred in "Tropic Thunder"] suggested him.
3. The directing: Jon Favreau was a little too relaxed this time around, and his style of encouraging improv and letting things flow almost drowned this film. The pacing was definitely off. He should have made the action sequences a lot more exciting, none of the sequences were great...just good. With "Iron Man" he had something to prove and he proved it, but with this one he wanted to make an even bigger movie and was so sure of himself [like Tony Stark/Iron Man he thought he was Invincible] that he didn't question any of his decisions...which resulted in a lackluster sequel. He probably doesn't care though, since he's raking in the cash and a lot of people [myself included] actually like the film despite it's flaws.
Great performance by Golden Globe Winner Mickey Rourke ["The Wrestler"] as Ivan Vanko; the vicious genius who wants Tony Stark dead for the sins of his father, he's easily the highlight of the movie. Good performances by Robert Downey Jr. [who wasn't quite as good as he was in the first movie], Gwyneth Paltrow who reprises her roles as Stark's assistant and love-interest Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle ["Hotel Rwanda", "Brooklyn's Finest"] as Col. James Rhodes[although the chemistry wasn't nearly as good between him and RDJ as it was between RDJ and Terrence Howard], Sam Rockwell ["Moon"] as Stark's business rival Justin Hammer [even though he was a little cartoonish at times], and Scarlett Johansson [who played S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, was sexy as usual and actually did a great job when it came to the physicality of her role...her fight scene toward the end is one of the best in the movie even though as most reviewers can't help to point out...it didn't compare to 'Hit-Girl' in "Kick-Ass", there was something lacking when it came to her character's development though]. Jon Favreau [who reprised his role as Tony Stark's driver/friend Happy Hogan] and Clark Gregg [who reprised his role as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson] were good as well. Decent performances by Garry Shandling [as a Senator who demands Tony Stark hand over his technology to the U.S. Government], John Slattery [as Tony's father Howard Stark], and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury - Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. ...he could have been so much better but I blame Theroux[for the writing] and Favreau[for the direction] of course.
This is definitely not a standalone film like the first one was, it's like they tried to cram too many Easter eggs/nods to the fans into the movie as a means to set up "The Avengers", that they lost the magic that made "Iron Man" so special, not to mention it's not that compelling. It's not even close to the level of other successful Comic Book Movie sequels such as: "The Dark Knight", "X2: X- Men United", "Spider-Man 2". It had great cinematography and special effects though.
The ending was pretty cool but somewhat anti-climatic. Overall it was entertaining but not as engaging as it should have been, it's still worth seeing more than once [I still plan on seeing it a second time] even though it didn't live up to the hype.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5