Maxim’s Movie Reviews and Opinions Blog

Was excited to see Iron Man-2 finally, on the opening day, after long wait – in IMAX. I liked it. It’s good, but don’t set your expectations too high if you want to really enjoy it. The movie feels like it’s composed of a lot of individual scenes and bits and pieces, but the whole picture is a bit chunky – a lot of characters were introduced, but they did not have a chance to fully open up or really do anything. Perhaps it’s a set up for a sequel, perhaps it was just cut badly. The latter is more likely, since there were quite a few continuity problems.

The plot: Six months after the end of the first movie, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is a celebrity for using his Iron Man armored suit to help negotiate peace between major world superpowers, thus bringing the longest period of peace on the planet (no major wars for the whole 6 months?). But every hero has enemies. Senator Stern (Gary Shandling) demands that “dangerous” suit be transferred into control of US government. Meanwhile the arc reactor that keeps his heart running is slowly killing him. Believing his death is imminent, he appoints his assistant Pepper Potts  (Gwyneth Paltrow) the CEO of Stark Industries, replacing her with Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson). Meanwhile, the son of disgraced physicist Anton Vanko, who collaborated with Tony’s father on original arc-reactor design, creates his own arc-reactor, and becomes the anti-Iron Man, and brings full might of his vengeance on Tony Stark.

1. For the most part, the plot was good.
2. Mickey Rourke was cast as the main antagonist – a Russian physicist, whose father suffered in some way from Tony Stark’s father’s activities (I never understood how exactly he was wronged and how actions of the anti-hero were justified by that). Every time I see him I remember how handsome he used to be and how ugly he is now.
3. Plenty of good jokes throughout the movie
4. Good acting! The entire cast did a really great job.
5. Scarlett Johansson kicks major ass – all the while in tight leather pants, and keeping her red hair fabulous.
6. Gwyneth  Paltrow looks great, as always
7. Nice special effects/CGIs, although the movie lacked definition to justify watching it in IMAX.
8. Mickey Rourke had to learn three short phrases in Russian for this movie, and he was dreadful at it. Not that it’s important for a movie that’s based on a  comic book. Laws of physics also do not apply.
9. There’s a scene where Tony Stark dressed up in Iron Man costume fights his friend inside his house. Why? Because he is a narcissist. Destroyed his own house just to make a point in a silly argument over nothing. Effing rich people! Of course, he is just being “eccentric”! He can afford it…
10. The boss fight was too short

Cast: Tony Stark – Robert Downey Jr. | Lt. Col. James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes – Don Cheadle | Natalie Rushman/Natasha Romanoff – Scarlett Johansson | Pepper Potts – Gwyneth Paltrow | Justin Hammer – Sam Rockwell | Ivan Vanko – Mickey Rourke | Nick Fury – Samuel L. Jackson | Agent Coulson – Clark Gregg | Jarvis – Paul Bettany | Christiane Amanpour

Crew: Director – Jon Favreau | Screenplay – Justin Theroux | Producers – Victoria Alonso, Louis D’Esposito, Susan Downey, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Alan Fine, Eric Heffron, Jeremy Latcham, Stan Lee, David Maisel, Denis L. Stewart | Music – John Debney | Cinematography – Matthew Libatique | Editing – Dan Lebental, Richard Pearson | Paramount Pictures