Iron Man 2: The Big Marvel Re-Watch

I'm attempting a great big Marvel movie re-watch ahead of the release of Captain America Civil War on 29th April. A summary and brief review of each of the 12 instalments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be posted each Thursday and Tuesday.

The third instalment in Marvel cinema.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Plot Summary 

After the "I am Iron Man" cliffhanger of the first film. The world is pressuring Iron Man to share his tech suit with the military. He makes a show at a senate hearing, urging him to turn over his "weapon", but he points out that every country in the world including the US is years behind his tech. Hapless, Justin Hammer being in charge of the US output. Meanwhile a Russian with an axe to grind with Tony's long deceased father, over stealing his designs, has already matched his arc reactor tech and made a powered suit of his own. Whiplash attacks Tony at the Monaco Gran Prix then the US government takes him on board rather than Tony. Rhodey intervenes and takes an Ironman suit from a drunk Tony Stark. Whiplash inevitably turns on them with the new tech, and it's up to Iron Man and the newly suited War Machine, to stop Hammer and Whiplash. While SHIELD use Black Widow to spy on Tony. Tony's Arc reactor is slowly killing him and he finds a new element to replace it hidden in an old tape and map from his father.

Stark and Pepper's relationship grows. Tony finds an upgrade to his arc reactor tech hidden in his fathers work. 

Bad accents galore!

Review

Although widely regarded as a misstep, I'll admit that this film is a guilty pleasure of mine. It was rushed out and has basically the same "everyone gets a suit" story that the first Iron Man had. An unnecessary sequel that was simply made to drive us an extra step closer before the Avengers team up. There are a few bad, mildly racist, accents and the government seems to be the same incompetent bad guy again. In other words, it's more of the same.

Tony goes global in Monoco.

This is your typical objectively "bad" superhero film. There are two many good guys and too many villains. Too much story to be forced in. It's packed and suffers because of it. Comparisons to Spider-man 3 are inevitable.

Why do I almost prefer this to the first film then? It's possible that I've over watched the first one for a start and this one has a bigger global feel going for it. It introduces more tropes and concepts from the comics. Sure it's a bit same-y but it's bigger, brighter and bolder. It packs more oomph! There's genuine emotion between this films villains. The first films antagonist was simply greedy. This time around Hammer has a cocky, wannabe Stark feel. A professional rivalry. Whiplash has genuine founded hatred towards Tony's father and is out for revenge.

More pieces of the Avengers puzzle fall into place.

You get a huge smattering of more comic book things brought over. Tony Stark has the suitcase suit, Black Widow and more SHIELD action, War Machine steps up as Iron Man's partner, and Tony's alcoholism is touched on. The end battle goes on way too long but boy does this movie have pay off. 

Sam Rockwell is one of my favourite actors and is totally wasted in this unnecessary sequel. I would have rather seen more of in the first instalment. Yet it's still entertaining as hell, while upping the ante on future Marvel films. Personally while I'd say Hulk was skip-able, this is a necessary evil in the run up to the Avengers team up.

Black Widow gets plenty of time to shine.

End Credits Scene

Leading directly into the next Marvel film rather than hinting straight at the Avengers end goal like the first two we've seen. After Nick Fury again tries to recruit Iron Man during the film, Phil Coulson is seen calling SHIELD telling them he's found it. "It" being Thor's hammer. Looks like they've found their next recruit!

Iron Man 2 Rating: 6/10

By no means perfect, and somewhat over crowded. Good Fun. More of the same, while upping the stakes. Wether that is good or bad is up to you.