I liked it, but...

Rating: 8/10 (1 May 2010)

I'm not very fond of superhero movies, but I had to make an exception when I first saw Iron Man. It had everything: action, visuals, great performances (except Gwyneth), comedy and drama. It was also a criticism to the arms industries. After the first movie's success, it was a logical move to make the second part. Now we see Tony Stark, the narcissistic and eccentric millionaire, enjoying his huge fame as Iron Man, the savior, the peacemaker. Everybody loves him, except his commercial rival and Ivan, a Russian physicist who wants revenge from the Stark family. The Government also plays a big role here, they want Stark's technology to be in the hands of the US Army, before anyone else. But Tony is Tony and he will fight for his creation. The first part of the movie seems to go very slowly, adding little to the plot. Because of this, the climatic scenes had to the shortened, giving me the feeling that something was missing. Scarlett Johansson was a good addition, but her role was more decorative than necessary. Again, Gwyneth Paltrow disappointed me, but I recognize that her performance was less plain. Scarlett just stole her thunder. I think the script wasn't surprising enough to keep the audiences guessing what will happen next. Robert Downey's charisma is what saves the entire movie and that's why I recommend it. It's entertaining enough for a popcorn weekend.