Step 1: Realize it’s tough to beat the first one. It’d be difficult for any additional Iron Man incarnation to surpass the original, but Iron Man 2 is a worthy follow-up.
Step 2: Love the Iron Man. I guess you could say the element of surprise — the realization that someone so unlikely as Robert Downey Jr. could actually pull off the role of a lifetime — is gone in IM2. I remember when they cast the actor. I thought “What an odd choice for a superhero.” But now, you can’t even fathom the idea of anyone else playing Tony Stark. The actor mixes just the right amount of snarkiness, arrogance, thoughtfulness and brawn – and in IM2, the characterization only deepens. This time around, having announced to the world he IS Iron Man, Tony has become a rock star, negotiating world peace and creating the Stark Expo, where all number of inventions can be displayed. Except he’s really just putting on a brave face since the palladium in the arc reactor keeping his heart pumping is slowly poisoning him. But he can’t think about that now, too many other distractions.
Step 3: Squash Uncle Sam. The U.S. government demands he hand over the Iron Man suit and the technology to run it, publicly viewing it as a threat but secretly wanting it for their own military purposes. While snively rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) just wants to steal it. Even Tony’s good friend Lt. Colonel James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) isn’t on his side. Cheadle, who replaces the original’s Terence Howard, and Rockwell are both welcome additions, especially the always good Rockwell, who adds a lot to IM2‘s greatly enhanced funny bits.
Step 4: Pass the Pepper … Potts, that is. Tired of all the minutiae and thinking he’s going to die soon anyway, Stark appoints his personal assistant Pepper as the new CEO of Stark Industries. As the will-they or won’t-they couple, Gwyneth Paltrow and Downey Jr. banter like pros, throwing in the zingers much more than they did in the original. I suppose it’s all that sexual tension built up. Speaking of sexual tension, Scarlett Johansson slinks her way into the cast as Tony’s new personal assistant, the mysterious Natalie Rushman, who may or may not be moonlighting as a secret agent for S.H.I.E.L.D. Lead by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), they are looking to possibly recruit Stark. And finally, the villain. Mickey Rourke plays Whiplash, a tatted up Russian baddie/engineer genius, who’s father once helped Tony’s father create the arc reactor – until the elder Stark had him deported for nefarious deeds. Like Cheadle and Rockwell, Rourke’s presence, too, adds a certain level of credibility to the proceedings. Rourke never takes it too over the top, but still uses his subdued manner and physicality to intimidate.
Step 4: Maintain the status quo. Director Jon Favreau has a deft handle on the subject matter, no question, with a few key action sequences sprinkled among the contemplative scenes. And with the clever screenplay by actor/writer Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder), IM2 ups the ante and keeps the Iron Man mythology humming without feeling forced, also setting up Marvel’s other upcoming adaptations. So why do I say the sequel doesn’t surpass the original? Because it just can’t quite reach that same level of excitement the first Iron Man gave us. The film never seemed like an introductory story, much like many comic-book adaptations (i.e. X-Men, Spider-Man, etc.), which then makes their sequels more compelling. Iron Man had it going on from the get-go, with Downey Jr. exceeding all expectations. In essence, all IM2 is required to do is to continue laterally along the comic-book lines, which it does entertainingly and successfully.
Level of difficulty in watching Iron Man 2: None. It’s going to make another butt-load of money.
