Iron Man 2

4 Stars

Downey delivers the goods in this solid and action-packed sequel.

Rating: PG
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke

What’s the story?
With the world now aware of his superhero alter ego, billionaire/playboy Tony Stark (Downey) continues his quest of protecting people in harm’s way. Beyond balancing his dual life, Stark finds that his miniaturized arc-reactor and the shrapnel in his heart are slowly killing him. Desperate to cure himself, he becomes depressed, causing him to lose his faith, identity and loyal friends. However, when a vengeful Russian scientist (Rourke) creates an arc-reactor prototype (similar to Stark’s) and uses it to unleash mayhem, Stark must regain the trust of his peers, and find the true hero in himself once again.

Why see it?
Though it isn’t superior to its predecessor, Downey’s balance of charisma, emotion, humour and brains prevent this film from becoming a stereotypical superhero flick. His on-screen chemistry with co-star Gwyneth Paltrow is irresistible and engaging. The supporting cast also does a great job at making their characters seem human, and Rourke gives a satisfyingly villainous performance. To top it off, director Jon Favreau delivers the right blend of humour and well-choreographed action sequences that give viewers what they bargained for.

Problems?
Though Iron Man is perceived as a hero, this sequel focuses more on the bad qualities of Tony Stark than the good. In addition, Iron Man 2 becomes slow and shallow near its second half, but the excitement quickly develops during the finale.

All in all:
An action-packed adventure that once again showcases Downey’s talents.