Thankfully, doesn't disappoint

Rating: 7/10 (6 January 2015)

IRON MAN 2 might not be quite the cohesive whole that its predecessor is (it can meander a bit), but there are plenty of things in the plus column. For one thing, Sam Rockwell is, next to Robert Downey Jr., the greatest performer in these movies. He's just as conceited as Tony Stark, but he's also got the ample comic charm to keep things light in between effects showcases. I love that Howard Stark is Walt Disney, and the glorious injection of kick-ass that is redhead Scarlett Johansson (mama!). The Grand Prix is a great set piece (I've always been fond of the silver-and red suitcase armor) and my favorite scene in the whole movie - just like last time - is Stark going to work in the lab.
But this movie was tasked with both building on the first movie and setting up THE AVENGERS. No easy feat, and as such, you could do a lot worse with your huge summer comic book movies.
7/10