Synopsis: Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster film based on the legendary Marvel Super Hero “Iron Man,” reuniting director Jon Favreau and Oscar® nominee Robert Downey Jr. In “Iron Man 2,” the world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, Tony forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces.
The JV Crew was there to check out the new Iron Man sequel that promised to rock our socks off. After roaming the malls and browsing some high-end fashion outlets, the Crew decided to hit the cinemas and let RDJ inspire us on his action-packed high-tech iron-clad show of the year.
Despite a rollicking opening half hour that leaves you wondering whether you're about to watch the SF film of the year, the movie is unable to deliver on the promise of its set-up. It was interesting and daunting till the action stopped living up to its hype.
All this extra effort drains the inherent sense of what was fun about the original, darkening it with issues and complexities that unnecessarily muddy the crisp, clearly commercial premise. The villain did not have a very compelling, urgent, dire need for revenge and Black Widow (Scarlet) looked like an extra-hot extra lost in the pages of scripts. Iron Man was a rare blockbuster that stayed with you -- the sequel all but evaporates the moment it cuts to some real hardcore action it could not deliver.
There was so many hints and insights to the following Avengers film that we had to say this: Marvel are so excited about The Avengers that they’ve decided to make a 2-hour advert for it, pass it off as a film named Ironman 2 and charge admission. Iron Man 2 tends to push the upcoming Avengers project far too often, diminishing its own assets and thinning the excitement by acting as marketing tool for a movie still two years away.
Having said that, Iron Man 2 really could have done better. So committed is it to recreating the feeling of the first film that it forgets to add any new elements of its own. It lacks the freshness of the original -- the pleasant surprise brought on by spot-on casting and an audience caught unawares – opting instead for recycled conversations and a few new guest stars. In the process, an ever-so-mild sense of disappointment enters the equation.
As much the techie stuff is fun and very much a part of Iron Man, there were far too many “and back to the workshop!” scenes/montages. We spend about 60% of the film building things, 30% talking about the things being built, and 10% using said products. We can’t believe we are saying this, but we kind of wanted more action and a bit less build up.
To be sure, the high points are quite high indeed, and for awhile I thought the film was on track to equal its predecessor. Downey knows his character extremely well, and his playful banter with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) hasn’t lost an ounce of its pep. Favreau centers the plot around the secrets of Tony’s father: a drinker, like Tony, who left unhealed scars for his son to deal with. One of those scars knows much more than anyone could guess about the Iron Man technology.
We knew Robert Downey Jr wouldn't disappoint. Despite his broken robot heart, he is clearly having the time of his life, and unlike so many onscreen billionaires, he carries it all off convincingly. Look at the stash of incredulously powerful and exotic cars in his garage, the amazing girls in his life and the luxuries he really enjoys, hard not to be living the life right?
Then there’s the whole S.H.I.E.L.D. business. Sammuel L. Jackson returns as Nick Fury -- and yes, he’s still the supreme ultimate bad ass of the universe -- but his scenes fail to connect to the remainder of the story and the addition of Scarlet Johansson as the Black Widow smacks of unnecessary fanboy bait. (Granted, she flips around on wires decently enough, but I’m sure Totally Spies wants their gimmick back by now.)
Bottom-line, the show was rigid in action, topped by good sound effects, specialising in weaponry and explosions. The ladies were fine and though we admit more bedroom romance could have been done between Scarlet and RDJ, we know Gwyneth wouldn’t have allowed that. The final scene where Iron Man and War Machine battles a super-charged, pulsated whip-enhanced Whiplash was a little choppy and ended with too little metal blowing up. We would expect a whole lot of explosions, super-tech gizmos, smoking hot babes, thicker plots and hammering action for the next sequel we suppose.
Ah, speaking about Hammering, seen the Easter Egg on the discovery of the mighty MJOLNIR in the ending credits? Subtle, quick and tantalising we say. It sets up the upcoming Avengers film like what Jon Favreau always loves to do, and hopefully it will hammer down an impact this time.
Rating: 3.5/5
Cheerios! Do enjoy the film and browse our collections at our website too!
The JustVim Crew
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