Tony Stark Returns!

So I finally got to see Iron Man 2 and I loved it. I even loved it more than the first one. Ever since I saw the first Iron Man back in 2008 I was in love with it. Iron Man was not the conventional superhero movie. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is a narcissistic and cocky weapons designer who becomes a superhero after a life changing experience. Stark has no super powers just like Batman, and builds his own weapons. However, unlike Bruce Wayne, Tony Stark is not all dark and brooding. It maintains a good balance of seriousness and comedy, but without it being corny like the Fantastic Four films.

The second Iron Man takes all of the best elements from the first movie and makes it bigger and better. The best thing about the Iron Man movies is Tony Stark, who was born to play Tony Stark. He is very likable and brings a whole lot of charisma to the big screen. Robert Downey Jr. has always been a good actor and it help make the character more three dimensional. The rest of the performances are solid too. Gwyneth Paltrow isn't given much to do, but she and Downey have good chemistry on screen. Although I like Don Cheadle I found myself missing Terrance Howard. Maybe because Howard was in the first movie and not this one. Still, Don Cheadle is a good replacement.

One weakness in the first Iron Man is that the villain was okay. Jeff Bridges played the menacing Obadiah Stane a.k.a. Iron Monger. Jeff Bridges was great because he had a simple objective, but not much depth in that plan. Mickey Rourke is really creepy as Ivan Vanko, who claims that Tony's father stole the arc reactor technology from Ivan's father. So Vanko goes after Tony with his own Arc reactor and uses electric whips to try to take him down.

Another villain is Justin Hammer, who is Stark's rival. Hammer wants to destroy Stark and realizes that Vanko can build computer controlled robot suit weapons to make a profit. I loved Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer, but he gets too much screen time. He hams it up as Hammer, but this guy can't be taken seriously as a menacing villain. The main conflict should have been between Vanko and Stark.

To be honest, this film is a mess, but its not a disaster like Spider-Man 3. Unfortunately, I blame the screenplay by Justin Theroux, who also co-wrote the screenplay for Tropic Thunder. I was always hesitant about the decision, but did not count him out. The script is not as stellar as it could have been, but this story had so much potential. There are moments of brilliance, but too many plot points. Plus, unless audiences pay attention really well then some things can be confusing. For example, Sam Jackson appears in the movie as Nick Fury, Agent of S,H.I.E.L.D. Unless you stuck around to the end of the credits in the first movie you'll be scratching you head saying "who the fuck is this guy?".

The movie kept me entertained, but it is more flawed than the first one. The film improves on the action and Robert Downey Jr. is as good as ever. This is a good effort and hopefully Iron man 3 will be more focused. I like how this film, along with the original Iron Man and the Incredible Hulk are in the same universe and setting up for an Avengers movie. Thor and Captain America are coming out next summer and The Avengers is coming out in 2012. There are hints in the film like you can briefly see Captain America's shield in Tony Stark's lab. In addition, if you stay until the end credits there is a scene which sets up for the next Marvel movie, Thor. I just hope more Marvel characters can be incorporated into this universe.