Too Much Iron

Rating: 7/10 (18 May 2010)

Just a few years ago the careers of Robert Downy Jr. and Mickey Rourke looked like the smoldering aftermath of one of the explosive battles in Iron man 2. Now they're together staring in one of the biggest movies of the summer. The problem is biggest does not always mean best.
Downy reprises his role as weapons mogul Tony Stark. We pick up the story after Stark announces he is Iron man. Soon we are pulled along with him as he's stretched every direction by the government, friends and enemies. As he's spiraling out of control he becomes somewhat of an ass but Downey's irresistible charm pulls you through.
Rourke joins the cast as a disgruntled Russian baddie who invents his own suit and weapons manufacturer and rival to stark, Justin hammer (Sam Rockwell) finances his operation. Rourke steals almost every scene he's in with little dialogue. His presents on the screen is commanding. Rockwell is solid, as Downys smarmy know it all rival. But in the end the show belongs to Tony Stark. Downey keeps you hanging on every word with the help of Justin Theroux's dialogue. There is sharp wit and bite with every snarky comment. The movie oozes humor and it saves the picture.
While Theroux wrote great dialogue, his story suffers from a bloated plot. Too many new and uninteresting characters such as the members of S.H.E.I.L.D. put a speed bump in the middle of the movie throwing of the pacing a bit. Sam Jackson and Scarlett Johansson give wooden performances that take away screen time from the Downy, Paltrow would be romance and the more interesting plot line of Starks daddy issues. I understand that they are trying to set up an Avengers movie but not at the cost of Iron Man.
The action is bigger and louder as you would expect in a summer sequel, but is unnecessary. Its always gonna be more fun to see one dastardly bad guy pummel the hero, than whole mess of not so dastardly ones get ripped to shreds. The smaller action scenes do work but the climax leaves the movie down flat. In the end Iron Man 2 leaves you wanting a little more man and a lot less iron.