MOVIE REVIEW: IRON MAN 2

IRON MAN 2 (English/PG13)

Genre: Action/Adventure

Release Date: 30 April 2010

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Running Time: 124 mins.

Director: Jon Favreau

Producers: Kevin Feige, Avi Arad, Susan Downey

Writers: Justin Theroux

Casts: Robert Downey Jr, Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L Jackson

Plot: The world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the armoured superhero 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 armour because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. Inevitably, Stark is pitted against his Russian arch nemesis, Whiplash (Mickey Rourke), and corporate rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell). Also making their Marvel debuts are Scarlett Johansson as the sexy Russian spy Black Widow, and Don Cheadle, who takes over the role of Colonel James Rhodes from Terrence Howard.

THE VERDICT

There are lots of talks around the town with the arrival of Iron Man 2. It arrives a week earlier here than in Stateside. Never mind, the next million dollar question would be how good is Iron Man 2? Could it be better than the predecessor? For me, it is not as good as the first can have, but it remains some of the high value in terms of story-telling and enjoyment for the wacky Tony Stark. Highly enjoyable and there are many product placements that really makes the whole thing about The Avenger looks highly anticipated. Personally, it did not disappoint me at all.

Iron Man 2 picks up the story 6 months after Tony Stark revealed himself as the real Iron Man. Stark faced some dilemma in believing the palladium arch reactor that kept him alive is also killing him slowly. Beginning to fall apart of himself, he relinquished the CEO post to the one who he trusted, “Potts” Pepper. The government was also demanded him to hand over his Iron Man suits believing that it poses threat to the county’s security. Things go even wild when a forgotten Russian prisoner Ivan Vanko created a suit of his own with the same technology possessed by the Stark Industries. Seeing as an opportunity to beat his rival, Justin Hammer hired Vanko to create an army of new armored suits that will turn Iron Man an antique.

First, let’s look at the story. Although I have mentioned that the general feel about this movie has lost a little bit of that same feeling comparing to the first one, but you still have the same storyline that was still highly creative and entertaining. This time the screenwriter prefers to go all the way for more complicated stuffs. We have several parallel plots to come forward with Ivan Vanko, Justin Hammer, Nick Fury and Iron Man; where they have their own virtual story lines to follow and certainly this is going to make some pavements more crystal clear for the next sequel and the upcoming Avenger series. It was no longer a surprise that an Avenger movie will make its roundabout in few years time or else I must admitted that there might be some fraction whom will get turned-off with many ‘advertisement-placement’ of the many elements of Avengers. You see Nick Fury, (SPOILERS COMING!) Thor’s hammer, Captain America’s shield, and certainly Black Widow encrypted inside the scenes.

More in depths; we try to find the similarities between the comic and the movie. Alcoholism was not portrayed the same way. Tony Stark resort to the bottle because he knew he need to look ahead for his dying future – the palladium toxicity will eventually kills him off soon. Thus, he became too flamboyant and misguides his own fate. He was lost! Then, out of nowhere Nick Fury came to rescue matter into order. Stark’s rival Mr Hammer could have been easily rule over the world – no thanks to his ingenious stupidity for trusting and trying to buy someone whom he can’t. He really wanted to make stuffs like how Tony Stark did, but he can’t! Matters happened and were not as easy as it was, but Justin Theroux has managed to come out with a decent script not the one I bested for but it should have been appropriate the carry the movie forward.

Here’s another point-out. I won’t say lack of fighting scenes a bad thing in Iron Man 2. I know that plenty of us may be let down by the finale when Iron Man and his sidekick of War Machine battled the evil Russian Whiplash in less than two minutes; for that I felt dissatisfied too. One thing that immediately came into my mind was that usually in most superhero movies, the second film will dealt much about the adaptation period. Batman talks more than he shoots in The Dark Knight. Peter Parker wonders if he should continue a masked vigilante in Spidey 2 too. Film two deals with a lot of idealism, transitional and what’s not and perhaps this applies to Iron Man 2 as well.

Acting wise; nobody would despise the notion that Robert Downey Jr is a good actor. Follow him in this juvenile venture of Tony Stark with brilliant acting and truly decent witty jokes that could burst you into laughter. He has charms and I like him that way, at least he does not have the same dimensional acting like (err…Sam Worthington!) Gwyneth Paltrow’s Potts Pepper was a bit naggy but that was forgivable. Don Cheadle did not make me missed Terrence Howard so much. Mickey Rourke’s Whiplash could have been not sneakier than what he was. Oh boy, that man was filled with vengeance! Scarlett Johansson gave a truly jaw-dropping turnout as Black Widow while Samuel L Jackson’s Nick Fury was fantastic and cuckoo. Finally, we have Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau himself) acts cute! All I wanted to say was that I was impressed by the awesome collective works by the casts for I do see ample screen time was spent on each.

Truly, nothing impressive more than its special effect. Truly CGIs but also a true breathtaking intake on the realism of experience! Watching Iron Man was always been fun and the second outing has the same feeling for the roller-coaster ride. I have no idea how many times I have mentioned it but Iron Man 2 was enjoyable. No fan boys should miss it and many may find themselves pleased with this one. Can it be a top 10 finisher I cannot answer that so soon yet.

THE RATING:

Story - 3.5 stars

Casts - 4.5 stars

Cinematography - 4.0 stars

Effects - 4.5 stars

OVERALL - 4.0 stars

GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 16.1