After the monumental release of The Dark Knight, many comic book fans and movie goers alike agree on one thing: directors need to start taking comic book material more seriously. Filmmakers have heard their calls and are promising to bring their favorite hero into a brave new dark world.

And then there’s Jon Favreau, director of Iron Man and its newest sequel.  Iron Man 2 has you glued to the screen from the start, throwing everybody’s favorite Hollywood comeback kid, Robert Downey Jr. back into the fold as superhero/corporate engineer Tony Stark.  The focus of this film is back on Stark for most of the ride, placing him in the forefront of the world’s safety, strengthening ties between countries, fighting off copycat Iron Man designs, buying more time his struggle to find a life source, as well as fighting his alcohol addiction.

It sounds like a lot and most of the time, it feels it.  We all know that Iron Man can’t do it alone against new and old enemies and although War Machine (played by other super cool actor, Don Cheadle) is present in this movie, there is just not enough time to flesh out Rodey and Stark’s friendship.  A nice preference would’ve been less Black Widow, played by eye candy, Scarlett “Cardboard Acting” Johansson, and more of the central characters that mattered a little more.

Where the film shines and falters at the same time is in mood and tone.  It doesn’t take itself too seriously with its subject material but some of the silliness (Daft Punk’s ‘Robot Rock’ Scene in particular) just gets a little out of hand.  He’s still being portrayed as someone who could live in the real world and although Iron Man “cuttin’ some rug” brings its laughs, there was so much potential in tackling his drinking situation. One relationship that worked well was Stark’s and Pepper Pott’s (Gwyneth Paltrow) awkward friendship throughout the movie.  The film, like most mainstream blockbusters these days, surely sets itself up for a third one.  Bring it.

- Henry Mullins

Posted in Reviews