Gail sees a movie: Iron Man 2

I enjoyed the first Iron Man so much that I was really looking forward to Iron Man 2. I should have known better. I would watch Robert Downey Jr. in anything and Tony Stark is a compelling character, but Iron Man 2 falters under the weight of Justin Theroux’s bloated screenplay.  Even able director Jon Favreau cannot recreate the magic of the first film. 

Now that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has “successfully privatized world peace,” he has become a bit insufferable. But primed to take Stark down is scary Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), a brilliant scientist turned criminal. Also gunning for Stark is the not scary arms manufacturer Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell). If that were not enough, Stark has to testify before Congress and Senator Stern (Garry Shandling). Oh, yeah, the device keeping him alive may also be killing him.  Fortunately, the loyal Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) is at Stark’s side. But a new woman has caught Stark’s eye. Is sexy and mysterious Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson) friend or foe? Are there too many characters in Iron Man 2? 

The best scene in the film is the opening Stark expo, as Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark celebrates himself. Downey is terrific and funny as the over the top Stark extols his own virtues to screaming throngs. But Downey is appropriately pensive as he checks his blood levels for toxicity. Stark’s romance with Pepper, so charming in the first film, is practically non-existent here. Gwyneth Paltrow is forced to alternate between whining and arguing with Stark, and her character seems stripped of her former spunkiness. The rich relationship between Stark and Lt. Rhodes (a very underused Don Cheadle) is shortchanged here, and the petulant argument Stark starts with Rhodes seems out of character. Weapons manufacturer and Stark rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) is about as threatening as a fly, and his character gets too much screen time. Sam Rockwell gives a one note performance here, and that note is annoying.  The film threatens to get really interesting when Nick Fury (the always interesting Samuel L. Jackson) shows up, but this does not happen until the end of the film, and Jackson’s appearance is too brief.

Other than Downey, the bright spots in this film are Mickey Rourke and Scarlett Johansson.  Ivan Vanko (Rourke) is bent on revenge and seems a little crazy. Buff and tattooed Rourke looks menacing enough to defeat Iron Man. His Russian accent is convincing and scary, and his silver teeth glisten as he spits out, “There will be blood in the water, and the sharks will come….” All of his scenes are compelling, and I would have liked a little more of Rourke.  Scarlett Johansson manages to be both cool and red hot as the enigmatic Natalie Rushman. Stark is instantly attracted to her, and Johansson makes Natalie leaning over his shoulder seem overtly sexual.   Unfortunately, their flirtation goes nowhere, and Stark seems to give up too easily.

The second half of the film is better than the first half, and Iron Man 2 would have benefited from some judicious editing.  This film did not need to be 124 minutes long. The special effects are certainly big, and there are some cool looking fight scenes. “I am Iron Man. The suit and I are one,” Stark tell a group of senators.  True enough, but I wish Tony Stark had been given a better story. 

Iron Man 2.  Directed Jon Favreau.  Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Don Cheadle(Lt. Col. James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes), Scarlett Johansson (Natalie Rushman), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Sam Rockwell (Justin Hammer), Mickey Rourke (Ivan Vanko), Garry Shandling (Senator Stern)and Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury). Paramount Pictures, 2010.

 

Gail sees a movie appears every Wednesday.