I have to admit, I have a big man-crush for Robert Downey Jr. as an actor. Since reviving his career with the film Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, he has had a knack for choosing roles that best allow him to display his strengths. The strength of 2008’s Iron Man was due in large part to the choice to cast RDJ as billionaire playboy Tony Stark.
I also have to admit that when I saw initial trailers for Iron Man 2 with Mickey Rourke as the villain, I was concerned. It isn’t that I don’t like Mickey Rourke, in the rare role–like Marv in Sin City–he is brilliant. I just did not see him carrying the evil mastermind role in this film. Thankfully, he did not have to. Director Jon Favreau and his writing team made some very good choices with this second installment in what one assumes will be a franchise.
One of the most important decisions made for Iron Man 2 comes from the realization that Iron Man, as a character, is boring. Yes, I said it, boring. Don’t get me wrong, I think he is a cool superhero, but in a time when we’ve been inundated with comic book movies for years, and few with any lasting value after seeing them the one time, a feature length film of a man in a robotic suit fighting battle after battle is not something I want to see. Bring me some cool special effects, but please don’t do so without a bit of story. Tony Stark is the story when it comes to Iron Man. He is the flawed anti-hero with the rakish charm and the sarcastic wit that makes these films entertaining. Favreau used this fact to full advantage in this second installment of Iron Man.
In fact, my initial thoughts on this second film was that it was nothing more than an extended set-up film, until I came to the conclusion that I mention above, which is that Tony Stark is the film, not the Iron Man character, and that conclusion led to the realization that Iron Man 2 is a very natural progression in the series. Tony Stark is continuing to fight his own personal demons and his own worst enemy–himself. And the most entertaining and riveting parts of the film are not the latest special effects or the fight scenes, but are instead the scenes where Robert Downey Jr. is laden with dialogue to chew up onscreen in a way that only he can do it.
The second good choice of the writers and director was the manner in which Mickey Rourke was used. Contrary to RDJ as Tony Stark, Rourke’s character, Ivan Vanko, is a quiet, simmering, menacing character who remains enigmatic in and of himself. The character of Ivan Vanko is revealed more through his actions and the verbal diarrhea of Stark’s business competitor, Justin Hammer, played to smarmy perfection by Sam Rockwell, than by the dialogue given to Rourke. I cannot promise that you will enjoy him in the role, but it worked for me.
The reason both of these films work for me personally is that they allow Robert Downey Jr. to dominate the screen and the battles, etc. are secondary to the Tony Stark storyline. Iron Man 2 is filled with fun cameos and nods to the astute comic book fan. Characters like Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) who could be really badly realized are instead allowed to remain somewhat mysterious due to minimal screen time and a willingness by the producers to not feel pressured to cram too much into one film. Even Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff is allowed to shine due to having just enough screen time to keep the character interesting without being overly campy in a comic book sense. To be honest, while the fight scenes with Iron Man were fun to watch, I enjoyed the editing and camera angles of Johansson’s fight scene better than any of that featuring Iron Man…and not just because Scarlett Johansson is highly attractive.
So kudos to Jon Favreau (who puts himself in front of the camera just enough to have a really entertaining role) for putting together a sequel that is not the greatest comic book movie ever to grace the big screen, but one that is well above average and is worth shelling out your hard earned dollars to open the summer blockbuster season. I enjoyed it, bring on Iron Man 3!
If you do go see the film, remain for the credits as there is a brief geek moment that you do not want to miss.
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As I left the theater yesterday I got a message that one of America’s most legendary artists had passed away. I have the deepest affection for the work of Frank Frazetta and will do a proper post honoring him when I return from my vacation. I might be out of pocket for the next 4 or 5 days as Mary and I go on our annual anniversary trip. Hope everyone has a wonderful week.
Sounds like a fun sequel to kick off the summer popcorn flick season. I remember being pleasantly surprised by the first Iron man film so it’s nice to hear the director and writer’s have put together a fun sequel.
RIP Frank Frazetta. Truly a great artist.
Psst – Carl – What’s with no Black Widow pic? 🙂
HAVE A GREAT TRIP!
I have to say that although I agree with most of the positive comments about this film that you made, it just didn’t make me love it. And I think a lot of that has to do with the way Pepper Potts was portrayed/written. She just seemed so ditzy, especially in comparison to the way she was in the first film. Still, it is worth watching.
I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, and I completely agree with you that Tony Stark is the star, not Iron Man. RDJ is one of my favorite actors for his ability to make dialogue sound like it’s his own quick wit coming out instead of a memorized bit written for the character. Plus I have a big ol’ girl-crush on him. I’m pretty sure it’s my destiny to save him from cocaine and fame.
But I was a little sad that Pepper spent more of her time running to catch up to Stark instead of keeping him in line. She’s his compass because he doesn’t really have one of his own. I understand why he would ignore that compass, since he was dying, but it gave her a role in this movie that I didn’t like so much as the first one. I did think again that Gwyneth is aDORable in strawberry blonde hair and freckles.
Captain America’s shield just KILLED me. I admit I spent most of the movie giggling to myself. It’s easy to tell that Favreau and his team are big fans of comic books and wanted to reward others who fall into the same category.
I always thought Robert Downey Jr was a fanominal actor (re: Chaplin) but his addictions put a great dent in my thoughts about him… I hope he has truly beat the odds because I do love his acting! (I just don’t want to help support those that use their wealth for things like drugs)…
I hadn’t heard about Frazetta. It’s too bad his son won’t pick up where dad left off instead I fear there will be a war for the money.. :o(
Deslily, I’ve never thought it was fair to someone to judge their art in light of personal habits or beliefs.
Pablo Pacaso loved to seduce young, underage women, but that didn’t make him any less of a great artist, nor is Roman Polanski any less of a fine filmmaker for the same proclivity. It happened to Herbert von Karajan because he had been a member of the Nazi Party. It was his choice to join rather than flee, but he was tarred with it for the rest of his life. Still he was a great conductor, I appreciate him as such.
I admire Downey’s acting ability and when I watch him act, I don’t dislike the film or his acting because of his personal habits. I don’t approve drug use, but that’s a separate matter. Someone who thinks drinking alcohol wrong could dislike just about every actor! It still would have nothing to do with their skill as an artist.
Nothing personal, and just my opinion. You, and others, may disagree.
I thinjk – and fear – you are right about the war over Frazetta’s estate.
Richard – I guess I feel 180 degrees differently than you on this subject. I feel one’s choices are just as much a reflection of themselves as their work or art. The two are enter twined to me and not so clearly separated as you see them in my opinion. I may enjoy RDJ’s work but I will never hold him in the same regard as I do other people. I can not divorce people of their choices and/or intentions from their end results. I will be the first to admit I’m not perfect and I don’t hold others to standards of perfection but I do not think it wise to forget poor choices in light of good results. I may forgive but I do not forget.
As you said I will echo this is just my opinion. You, and others, may disagree as well. This also all have to say on this subject.
As a literary man you probably enjoyed the following quote in it as much as I did: “If it [the Ex-Wife pen] were any smarter, it’d write a book. A book that would make ‘Ulysses’ look like it was written in crayon.” Haha.
While it’s true one should not judge another on his/her habits such as drinking or drugs.. i generally don’t but when it’s in my face it changes things. I smoked most of my life but I never would let someone borrow a cigarette from me, I knew it was a bad habit and figured if they are going to have the same bad habit it won’t be because I helped it along.
I do admire RDJs acting and I really hope he has beat his demons! He really is one of our better actors and I do watch his movies but I don’t pay to go see them .
Sometimes I just get slapped in the face with a fact like when RDJ was in jail and it was all over the tv. and I find myself sitting there thinking that here is someone so talented and he makes a lot of money, he should be happy and living the good life, and yet he’s killing himself! I guess I just don’t want to help him succeed and die.
Happy Anniversary!
Fair enough, and I respect your opinion, Jeff and deslily, and I surely do understand the part about it being in your face. Of course in times before every sneeze was reported by The Media, we often didn’t know about much but what was visible; the book, the painting, the performance.
My point was just that the art – and I was thinking of painters, writers and such more than actors – should be judged on it’s own merits, not the habits or beliefs of the artist.
I knew many people who refused to buy CDs of performances by von Karajan , but he was a terrific conductor, no matter his politics. On the other hand the actions of most rappers and hip-hop singers dismay me and do affect my decision about buying their music (though I don’t like the style so I wouldn’t buy it anyway…)
I have a (Platonic) crush on Robert Downey Jr. too. I wasn’t really paying any attention to him in the days when he was such a drug-addicted mess, so I don’t have leftover feelings of annoyance from that. I think he’s sober now, for the past at least five years? I know he was sober when he did Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, but I can’t remember when that came out.
Anyway, I think he’s a fantastic actor. I love listening to him talk, that completely dry delivery he has – he’s perfect as Tony Stark. I can’t wait for the third film!
I agree wholeheartedly with your review. RDJ makes the Iron Man movies with his wit and humor. And it’s nice that he’s easy on the eyes. However I have to admit that most of my favorite scenes were the banter/conversations between Hammer and Vanko. Perfect foils for each other and highly entertaining all around.
What do you all think? Is this a “see it on the big screen” movie, or a “wait for DVD” movie?
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of my alltime favourite movies. LOVE it. And LOVE him.