Iron Man 2: I don’t know why Hollywood feels the need to give us a “dark” sequel for just about every superhero property, where they debate being a superhero, succumb to greed or arrogance, before eventually being redeemed. “Spider-Man 3” and “Superman 3” are good examples. “IM2” is that kind of a film. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr., back again) is high on his accomplishments from the first film, virtually guaranteeing world peace with his Iron Man armor, to the consternation of the American government and a corporate competitor Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell). We also get a revenge plot involving the son of a former Soviet scientist, Ivan Danko (Mickey Rourke, who looks more like a burn victim each role), who wants to destroy Stark the way his father was destroyed by Stark‘s father. All of which makes Stark’s fall that much harder. We get Jon Favreau and Gwyneth Paltrow back in their supporting roles, as well as Don Cheadle as Rhodey this time around and Scarlett Johannson as Tony’s new personal assistant who is more than she appears to be. The dialogue is quick and glib, the action is solid, and build-up to the “Avengers” movie continues (though I hardly think it’s right around the corner, we do get nods to both Captain America and Thor here). Disappointed in the soundtrack being just a re-hash of previously released AC/DC songs, but glad that they shelved that ridiculously over-used Marvel “synapse“ intro crap. A respectable follow-up that holds its own with the original, though it seemed to take itself less seriously than its predecessor (Sam Rockwell is hardly menacing as Hammer). Woodchuck sez, “Check it out.”
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