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Robert Downey Jr. stepped into the Iron Man suit in a 2008 Marvel Studios production which brought the superhero to life in a clever, well-rounded origin story. And 2010’s “Iron Man 2” sees Tony Stark once again donning the Iron Man suit to thwart a new threat. Packed with action, humor, and a star-studded cast, it’s an enjoyable enough romp even if it’s mostly more of the same fare.
Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) watches Russian news coverage of Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) revealing himself as Iron Man. Vanko’s father, Anton (Yevgeni Lazarev), recently passed away, and Ivan sets about building a miniature version of an arc reactor similar to the one in Stark’s chest. Flash forward six months and Tony exhibits a change of heart, not just in the form of the prominent arc reactor embedded in his breast. The once weapons manufacturer uses his Iron Man suit for peace. Honoring the spirit of his late father Howard (John Slattery), Tony throws the Stark Expo in Flushing Meadows, New York. Although the palladium core within his chest is keeping metal shards from reaching his heart, Tony learns that it’s also poisoning him. As such, Tony begins acting recklessly. But rather than reveal this, Stark keeps his condition close to his chest. However, he appoints romantic interest and personal assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) CEO of Stark Industries and hires Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson) as a new personal assistant.
On vacation in Monaco, Stark competes as a driver in the Grand Prix. Ivan Vanko disrupts the race in a suit that employs similar technology to Tony’s arc reactor. Although Vanko is ultimately arrested, as he’s dragged away Ivan taunts Tony that there’s blood in the water. The seemingly-invulnerable Iron Man appears more human. Indeed, Stark Industries competitor and weapons manufacturer Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), sets out to bring down Tony with the help of Vanko. With mounting pressure from the United States government to hand over the Iron Man suit, Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) confronts Stark, ultimately securing a suit for the Army. And SHIELD director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) intervenes aid Tony in solving the problem of the palladium slowly killing him.
As with its 2008 predecessor, “Iron Man 2” flourishes under the direction of Jon Favreau who also acts in the film as Stark’s bodyguard and chauffeur, Happy Hogan. And Favreau brings the same energy as in “Iron Man,” crafting a balanced film. Action is top-notch with epic fight choreography and slick CGI effects. Robert Downey Jr. steals the movie with a witty, charming yet cocky Tony Stark. The second installment in the “Iron Man” franchise further probes Tony as an individual while delving into Howard Stark’s history and SHIELD lore.
Rhodey benefits from an expanded role, this time played by Don Cheadle, appearing chiseled for the portrayal of James Rhodes. Pepper’s relationship with Tony continues to develop. Sam Rockwell delights as the comedic, often unintentionally, Hammer. The concept of Tony creating his own enemy, albeit unwittingly, through a pseudo-invulnerability, offers a fresh take to the villainous Ivan’s motivations.
Is “Iron Man 2” as good as its predecessor? Not entirely. The sequel abides by a similar framework which, while successful, doesn’t carry the same originality. Through its familiarity, “Iron Man 2” fails to innovate, but it doesn’t need to. Sure, this “Iron Man” follow might not feel as fresh, however it’s nevertheless a high-energy comic book movie that absolutely delights.
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