MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "Iron Man 2 (2010)"

So, I have a single question about this movie – why does everyone seem to hate it?

No, I’m being serious.  Because this movie really isn’t that bad.  Are you upset by the fact that RDJ’s screentime is cut into by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), who shares all of his scenes with him, or by the Black Widow aka Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) who has all of about two scenes that don’t feature the Iron Man himself?

Well, as linking you the “Continuity” music video from It’sJustSomeRandomGuy’s Marvel/DC series would be just a bit too on the nose, I’ll tell you to hush.  Thematically, it makes sense for Iron Man 2 to be introducing more elements of the Marvel movie universe, being that Iron Man was the one to introduce the concept of a joined universe to begin with. But it’s also a personal story to Tony Stark in which we get to see further development of his character from the time of the first film, as well as more insight into his backstory and his relationship with his father.

Also, it’s not an hour and a half hour circle jerk for us to find out that the villain the whole time has been a cheap imposter.  But then that movie is just fine, apparently!

Getting into the story itself, however, we pick up six months after Tony’s big and badass reveal at the end of Iron Man that he is, in fact, the titular man of iron.  Apparently, in Russia, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) is none too happy about the sudden appearance of the Armored (future) Avenger on the scene and thus uses his father’s research to create an arc reactor all his own…that he promptly wastes on creating ridiculous energy whips.  Some people want to comparisons to this movie and Rocky IV, because Tony is an American badass going toe to toe with a Russian.  I, however, make this film out to be more like Rocky III than its sequel.  It will become very apparent why.

Russian Clubber Lang....no, seriously!

The film begins with Tony introducing the Stark Expo – an admittedly gigantic ego trip on his part – with some good old AC/DC and a line of chorus girls done up in Iron Man-esque outfits…which kind of jarring and almost offensive for me.  The arc reactor in particular being a symbol of both Tony’s triumph over the terrorists of the Five Rings, but also the physical manifestation of who he is and what he has become.  It, in its own way, is what makes Tony able to follow the dying words of Dr. Yinsen from the first film.

To commercialize such a thing would cheapen it and take away from what made it so special and precious in the first place…unless you’re Tony Stark, apparently.  Then it’s completely excusable and even hilarious.

…and to give it credit, at least it’s more respectful than, say, chucking it into the ocean out of hand.  That would be just stupid…

But Tony makes a short, grandiose speech about how no one in the world has been able to take him on ever since he first donned the suit.  On the flip side of that, however, we find that the palladium core of his Arc Reactor is poisoning his body.  Because of this, even as he lives, he dies.  So, Tony starts becoming more reckless, putting him at odds with both his assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and friend James Rhodes (Don Cheadle). We also get another nemesis brought into the film in the form of Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell).

After a battle in Italy, Hammer “acquires” Vanko from captivity and proceeds to get screwed over by being small potatoes compared to the actual villain of the piece.  On a side note, however, Rockwell plays the annoying twit pretty well and even has some genuinely funny moments.  He’s in there for comic relief and it shows, but the movie also doesn’t try to make him out to be anything else.  Like if they spent an hour and a half to just have him be the villain and have Vanko be nothing more than a comic relief puppet, even those they made no indication whatsoever that that was the case and, in fact, led you away from thinking that in such a way that would make the reveal even stupider.  But, then, Marvel would never do anything that monumentally stupid, would they? I don’t think so…

But yes, along with needing a solution to the palladium core burning his life away, Tony must contend with the most dangerous threat he has ever faced...as well as his own inner demons...sort of.

Once again, RDJ is back and he is really good.  Saying that RDJ is an awesome Tony Stark by this point is a bit like pointing out the great arcane secret that the sky is blue, so let’s move on.

The rest of the cast bring in passable if not good performances, including Don Cheadle taking over for Terrance Howard as Rhodey.  He’s alright, and I really don’t get too much difference between his performance and his predecessor’s.  On a somewhat related note, Rhodey takes to using the War Machine armor a bit too easily for my liking, seeing as it took Tony an entire film to get all the kinks worked out of his own suit.  However, it’s something I can look past.

And, of course, there’s the mention of Scarlett Johansson being in this film.  No complaints here.

…

No, honestly, I tried.  Can’t find anything wrong with this at all.  Not a thing.  It’s beautiful, wondrous, and I look forward to the Black Widow solo film.  Moving on…

Good golly, Miss Molly, er...Romanoff...

Really, beyond RDJ’s screen time being cut into, I really don’t get the problems people have with this film.  I could go on about the aforementioned Rhodey taking to the suit too easily…but I won’t.  I could go on about how Justin Hammer, a sinister and darker villain in the comics, has rings run around him by Whiplash of all people and is turned into comic relief…but I won’t.  I could go on about how it was admittedly a giant tease for The Avengers…but I won’t.

In the end, there’s a hero…a decent villain…and a satisfying conclusion that is but a part of the whole that lead into one of the greatest films of all time.

Now, being that the movie reviews are done every two weeks instead of every week, I was going to talk about Thor for the next edition of Reel Thoughts.  However, seeing as a particular movie is due to come out the week that that review will come up, I think it would be pertinent to talk about another film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one that came out as the last of the set to precede The Avengers and end Phase One.  And I can sum it up in three simple words:

AMERICA!!! F*CK YEAAAAAAAH!!!!

Iron Man 2 is now available from Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures, and is available wherever movies are sold.

For the latest from the MadCapMunchkin, follow him on Twitter @MadCapMunchkin

...oh, you want post credits? Fine.  Looking forward to Cap 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy.  And Avengers 2, obviously.  Still waiting on the Doctor Strange announcement, though...

...yeah, that's all I want.  Go.  Shoo.