Movie Review: Iron Man 2 (2010)

MJSSE Rating: 6

Time: 2hr 4m
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Science Fiction

On Mad Jack's Scale of Screen Excellence (0 - 10), I rate this as a solid 6.

Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, reformed mad scientist extraordinaire, fiendishly wealthy entrepreneur and tool using superhero.  Don Cheadle is the loyal sidekick, and the girl is Pepper Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow.  The villain is Ivan Vanko as played by Mickey Rourke, and the pseudo villain and adversarial mad scientist is Justin Hammer played by Sam Rockwell.  Usually I don't pay any attention to the players, but since the plot is pure unadulterated comic book and I have to write about something, well, there you have it.

If you don't want to read any spoilers, stop reading and go away.  This is the only official spoiler alert.

First off, let us dispose of the plot.  Stark has a super suit that gives him divine like powers, and so he proceeds to bring about world peace by unspecified means.  Casual reflection would lead any retarded five year old to conclude that it is likely Stark uses promises of mass destruction and examples of same to bring this about, but the movie doesn't go that far.  In bringing about world peace, Stark pisses off the US Military, US Congress, and we may presume the Senate; but oddly not the President (Note: The Anointed One is in office just now).  Stark also pisses off Ivan Vanko, a mad scientist whose Russian family was destroyed by Stark's father and who now wants vodka fueled vengeance.  Then there's a big fight and Iron Man wins - sort of.  Vanko/Rourke's demise is very likely exaggerated, else how would he return to make mischief in Iron Man 3?

The film is a comic book on the big screen, and its only saving grace is that it never pretends to be anything else.  There is one funny scene in which Justin Hammer leaves Vanko with three jailers who have instructions to taze his nuts unless he produces a really cool Iron Man suit right away.  Vanko smiles faintly as Hammer exits.  The film cuts to the scene of a Tony Stark mega-party featuring red hot dancing girls, rock music and hundred dollar bills.  When we get back to Vanko, he is unruffled and his jailers are all hanging from a ceiling fan.

Sam Rockwell does a good job with his role, but the writing falls down about halfway through the film and he ends up being forgettable.  Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts) is more strange looking than she is beautiful and given the hotties in the chorus line I wonder what Iron Man sees in her.  If it weren't for Mickey Rourke (villain Ivan Vanko) the entire film would be a waste.  Rourke does a great job as the villain and deserves to win this one.

All in all, this is entertainment.  If you're in the mood for a comic book type movie, see this one during a matinee or wait for the DVD.