Culture Blues

Movie Review: Iron Man 2

Dorks rejoice! Kind of.

When I watch a movie based on a comic book, especially one that I enjoy, the snobby part of my brain and the dorky part are often at war.  There are movies that I want to just relax and enjoy, but can’t bring myself to.  There are also adaptations that I want to hate, but their sweet explosions and familiar characters break down my cynicism.  This is one case where both parts of my mind are in agreement.  Iron Man 2 was slightly disappointing, but if you disregard my expectations what you are left with is a pretty solid summer popcorn flick.

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as hard drinking Tony Stark, and hard hitting superhero Iron Man.  Downey stamps his self destructive charm all over this role.  His performance is definitely the best part of this movie.   Suprisingly enough, very little time is spent behind the mask.  He is a different breed of hero, and Downey never lets the audience forget it.  Unlike most movies of its ilk, this one doesn’t explore the duality of the character so much.  Stark doesn’t hide behind a mask and brood about responsibility like most heroes; he embraces the celebrity status of his job and defends an entire nation almost single-handedly with a smile on his face.  But thanks to the steps he has to take to keep his suit going, he is also dying.  Ivan Vanko (played by a sinister Mickey Rourke) means to ensure he dies a lot quicker.  Ivan has his own version of the Iron Man suit, except with kickass lightning arms.  Sam Rockwell also presents problems for our hero as bumbling inventor Justin Hammer, who enlists the help of Vanko to show up Stark and create better technology.  But here’s the thing, the threat never feels grave enough.  Rourke has fun with his role as a crazy physicist, but eventually this franchise is going to need to get more out of its villains.  Most of the momentum in this movie is lost when we spend what seems like forever on Stark trying to invent an element that will power the suit and not slowly kill him.  I did care for a while, but eventually I couldn’t help but think: “okay, enough”.

The final act of Iron Man 2 salvages this with a flurry of action sequences that take advantage of the film’s budget.  And this goes without saying, but sweet mother of God Scarlett Johansson is sexy as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Natasha Romanoff.  And badass too.  Her fight scene late in the movie is one if the highlights of the entire film, and shows off a pretty slick mix of special effects and choreography.  Here’s to hoping her inevitable turn as Black Widow will finally bring us a villain to give Iron Man a run for his money.  Don Cheadle's talent seems wasted as Lt. James Rhodes, but he contributes to the dramatic climax nicely.  Shit blows up in spectacular fashion, but does enough shit blow up?  I don’t mind a lot of talking in these movies, I tend to think characterization is what can put films like this over the top, but there just weren’t enough “holy crap” moments.

Samuel L Jackson’s cameo as Nick Fury, and the Avengers tie-ins (the Captain America teaser made me excited in the pants area) have me pretty stoked for the future of dork cinema.  But it can’t save the fact that there was just something missing from this movie.  Maybe this was just territory the franchise needed to explore in order to pave the way for better days.  Regardless, the source material is strong enough and Downey is charismatic enough, to make this a must see for comic book or action movie fans.