In the circles of geeks, fanboys, fans and general audiences, there seems to be a bit of a consensus that says that Jon Favreau's comicbook sequel is inferior to it's popular predecessor. If the film is indeed lacking, could their be gems amongst the muck? Glove up as we dig into a retrospective review and observation of
IRON MAN 2.
The film starts with a prologue, a recapping of where IRON MAN left off; with a narcissistic Tony Stark telling the press that he is indeed, IRON MAN. Once the film is underway, we're introduced to our new villain; Ivan Vanko, the soon to be "Whiplash". Vanko looks like he might ask you for spare change in passing, but he's actually a physicist like his Father before him. After having a swig of Vodka and a good (if not awkwardly executed) cry on his Father's deathbed, Vanko prepares to forge a weapon based on Stark technology to avenge his Father. You see, Vanko's Father once had a grievance with Howard Stark (Tony's Father). Mickey Rourke is good in the role for what it is, but he soon has to share the spotlight with Sam Rockwell's shady arms dealer; Justin Hammer.
THE RIDDLE OF YOUR HEART
Once again, we find our hero in bad health. Built in a cave with a box of scraps, the innovative reactor that has been keeping Stark alive is ironically, killing him slowly. The miniature reactor implanted in Stark's chest has begun to infect his blood with toxins. Thinking of his mortality, Stark begins to drink.... Chlorophyll. But don't worry, Stark's drinking problem from the
'Demon in a bottle' story arc is teased in at least one scene. Stark's green concoction is fighting in vain (no pun intended) to neutralize the toxic effects of the Palladium in his blood. Stark then puts Pepper Potts in charge of Stark Industries, making her CEO of the company.
Robert Downey's performance is consistent with the series first installment, and while the feminine diva with the one-liners won't be denied his stage, we can see in hindsight that the actor is conveying a troubled Tony Stark with efficiency. The "high tech crossword puzzle" on his neck as James Rhodes calls it, does its job as a visual creep-out to convey a serious situation. The weight of the world is on Stark's shoulders. He's slowly dying without a cure in sight, the confiscation and replication of his suits is being promoted, and now; some guy with electric whips is standing in front of his race-car, right on the racetrack. And had you not seen the film, that would have sounded strange... er.
Iron Man is back and he has more than a few allies on his side this go round. Director Jon Favreau reprises his role as Happy Hogan, Sam Jackson breaks out as Nick Fury, Scarlett Johanson is introduced as Black Widow and James Rhodey Rhodes has also returned- however, there wasn't a "Next time, baby" for Terrance Howard as the role is now portrayed by actor Don Cheedle. And of course Gweneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts and Clark Gregg's Agent of Shield are back to support the Iron Avenger.
Iron Man 2 gets off to a slow start action-wise, with it's first big scene being a stylish and slickly executed piece where Stark first encounters his new foe. But before the fireworks, you must meet a couple more villains aside from Ivan Vanko in the form of Justin Hammer, played by the talented Sam Rockwell (MOON). They've even dug up comedian Gary Shandling to play a villain of sorts as the weaselly Senator Stern.
Hammer is a treat to watch as Rockwell portrays a character that might be in some ways a twisted version of Tony Stark. 'HAMMER INDUSTRIES', like 'STARK INDUSTRIES', is in the business of advanced weaponry. In the wake of the World's armed forces attempting to duplicate the Iron Man suit, HAMMER puts his own plans of an Iron Army in motion with the aide of Ivan Vanko.
After forging his own arc-powered weapon, Vanko walks onto an active racetrack in Monte Carlo to face Tony Stark, who's probably going well over 100MPH. Vanko has fashioned himself a pair of electric whips which have the destructive power to slice racing cars in half. They must have also made his reflexes and strength superhuman because he's performing this task with ease, and later gets rammed a few times by a Rolls Royce and lives to walks it off.
After Vanko fails to defeat Tony Stark in his new, sleek armor; armor that transforms from a high-tech suit case, Vanko is hauled off to prison where Justin Hammer orchestrates his escape- ultimately making Vanko his bitch. There's a little chemistry between the plotting Vanko and Hammer, but ultimately, Rourke's character crumbles under the charismatic weight of Rockwell's presence. Justin Hammer is just having way to much fun and he's keeping things from falling directly into boring territory.
The film has a lot going on and the pieces mount slowly but soon crowds the room. Pepper Pott's new assistant played by Scarlett Johanson has a deadly secret and she's been sent by Nick Fury himself to get next to Stark. When she's on-screen you can't take your eyes off her. She is so stunning that one starts to wonder what happened between this film and the Avengers; where she now looks less sleek, young and hot, and more Momish and a little heavier. We aren't kicking her out of the bedroom just yet. But THIS Black Widow is a killing machine on two levels.
There's some bad fight editing that switches clumsily between Johanson and her stunt-double, but there's a decent gag with Happy Hogan who's struggling with a single adversary while the Widow cleans house. I think Black Widow of the comics has a more fierce presence and physical stature than Johanson can provide, but similar to Chris Evans as Captain America, the character is basically reforged for the cinematic universe.
DEMON in a BATTLE:
The War Machine makes his debut appearance in a scene that puts James Rhodes against an intoxicated Stark who's suited up at a party in his Malibu Home. This is a taste of the INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #128 mentioned earlier. There's also deleted scenes that explore Stark's drinking problem- specifically an alternate opening scene in which the billionaire has a hangover on the eve of his Expo presentation.
After showing his audience of party-goers how he can go potty in his suit, Stark begins to use his repulsor blast to entertain the oblivious crowd. Seeing the potential disaster in taking aim at champagne bottles (and a Watermelon) tossed in the air, James Rhodes acquires the MARK II armor to confront Stark on equal ground. For the fight, Dj AM provides a "Phat Beat" comprised of Rob Base's 'It Takes Two' mixed with Queen's 'Another One Bites The Dust'.
The iron face-off ultimately ends in Rhodes stealing the MARK II suit, then taking it to the Army to be weaponized by Justin Hammer.
On a side note: When Rhodes touches down on base, you'll notice that the iron suit appears to be pretty big. Rhodes is towering over military personnel. I thought this was pretty strange considering the suits up until this point looked like suits built for standard, human sizes. How are Rhodes' legs fitting into that thing? Anyway....
Ultimate Nick Fury has arrived and he's fierce, commanding and completely badass. Just kidding, he's comedy relief.
We can all appreciate good comic-to-film translations of our favorite characters, but even in a world of HULKS' and Gods', my man looks mad out of place standing in front of Randy's Donuts with a big ass trench coat on. Maybe if it was night time and possibly raining, but Sam Jackson looks absolutely ridiculous walking around in all black, boots, and a Cobra collard, full length, leather trench.
They have since improved on this with a more toned down and environment-fitting look in Captain America, and again in Avengers with a sleek, action-ready look that also blends with the canvas. I guess Dracula Cobra collars don't mix well with Donut shops.
Tony Stark, in full gear save for his helmet resting beside him, has taken refuge atop the Donut shop. Director Fury convinces Stark to come down off the large Donut sign for a chat. While discussing the "High-tech crossword puzzle" on Stark's neck, we're introduced to a bored Sam Jackson phoning in a comedic Nick Fury. Jackson pretty much keeps this performance style consistently through his stint in the film.
As if Favreau neglected to give Jackson direction, the actor proceeds to sit lazily and sip refreshments like he's at a backyard cookout. I guess for me, I had a preconceived idea of what Nick Fury's demeanor should be. And again, this is another thing improved upon in Avengers- an element that's obviously dictated by whatever director is behind the wheel. But don't get me wrong, I enjoy Favreau's work and would love to see his version of Avengers in a parallel universe.
To solve the riddle of Tony's broken heart and kill the cooties coursing through his veins, he receives help from his Dear old Dad; from the grave. This is where things get interesting story-wise.
Stark receives old footage of his Father, Howard Stark, giving a presentation of his 'Stark Expo 74'. I really appreciate when a film can capture the authentic look and feel of a past time period without merely being a set of generic sets, props and what amounts to really good Halloween costumes. On a reel projector, Howard Stark speaks to his Son from a place that looks like it's actually happening in the 50's? If anyone has any clarification on the year, please provide it. It's unlikely that it's 74 as that date must signify the "Future" and completion of the Expo campus which is displayed as a model in Father Stark's footage. Everything from his suit, his hair grooming and the grain of film represents an awesome time period recreation. I'd have to be an expert to find any flaws.
After his presentation, which is interrupted at one point by a small Tony Stark who's made his way on-set and is removing a piece of the model, Howard Stark, in a haunting moment, addresses Tony directly from the film. Seemingly disinterested and/or distracted, Tony's attention turns to the image on the projector when his Father says his name.
Note: Howard Stark addresses Tony twice in the footage. Once when Tony comes on set and then when he speaks into the camera. Both times, when he says "Tony", it gets Tony's attention and he turns to look at the screen.
What happens next is quite far fetched but fun to witness. Tony has acquired his Father's old Expo model after a million in one shot that Tony can decipher the cryptic message delivered in the film. He crams the disassembled parts of the model into his Audi R8 V10 Spyder and hits the road.
After some genius level problem solving which involves an epic scanning of the model into a touch-interactive, 3D layout, Tony creates a new element; one that he fashions into a new reactor that solves his toxicity issue, powers his new suit and comes in triangle. Then comes our finale.
Ultimately, Iron Man 2 suffers from too much Iron. Iron Man is Iron Man and Rhodes is Iron Man 2/too, which wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't an Army of drone Iron Men and finally, WhipLash, in his own Iron Man suit. In the first Iron Man film, the plot revolves around a villain who acquires Stark tech and uses it against him in the form of an Iron Suit. The exact same thing is happening here.
Seeing War Machine and Iron Man back to back in action is undeniably awesome to witness. But in the end, when the villain arrives, things seem to sputter out in similar fashion to the defective piece of weaponry known as the "Ex Wife".
Iron Man 2 starts off with promise but doesn't really plummet into unwatchable territory, but starts to move downhill fast at some point in the last acts of the film. The gearing up of action nearing the end of an action film is usually the pay off, but I think what Iron Man 2 suffers from is simply an anti-climactic action finale. Many consider the sequel to be nothing more than a feature length advertisement for the then upcoming Avengers film. I personally didn't catch a vibe that Avengers was promoted to excess and I'm sure there are those who don't really find the film to be as bad as they say. IRON MAN 2 does fail in some areas, but does it deserve the consensus its generated in similar fashion as popular-to-bash comicbook movies such as Spider-man 3 and Superman Returns? I don't think so.
Iron Man 2 has some great characters and character interactions and performances despite the weaker of those elements. Rockwell is great, Rourke holds down his part and there are some genuinely memorable moments such as the two characters mentioned meeting each other. But it takes a while to get wherever the desired destination was, and it seems like the lights were turned off just as the party needed to get started. Couple that with a few ill-advised plot points and you take away the films potential. But at the end of the day, if I really think about the question "Do you like Iron Man 2?" I'd have to say yes. With all it's faults, it just makes it over the line as an acceptable sequel. Not great, but not unwatchable.