IRON MAN 2

US, 2010, 124 minutes, Colour.
Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg, John Slattery, Gary Shandling, Paul Bettany, Kate Mara, Leslie Bibb, Jon Favreau.
Directed by Jon Favreau.

Described as 'eagerly anticipated sequel' in the press notes (and that is correct), it is not necessarily as enjoyable as the original film was. That will depend on moods and tastes, of course, but the sequel, well made as was to be expected, is sometimes new but often enough a replay variation on the first film.

Robert Downey's Tony Stark is as entertaining as ever. The world knows he is Iron Man and he is revered as the saviour and enabler of peace. However, a number of people disagree – and that is where some of the good drama takes place. Most obviously, this is with the new villain, Ivan, played with relish and dissheviled glee by Mickey Rourke. His causing mayhem with his powers and his electric currents emanating from his body at the Monte Carlo Grand Prix starts the action sequences. And by the end, especially in the showdown with robots galore and Ivan being terrible again, there is enough clunking, chunking, thunking, plunking (and some bunk as well) to shatter eardrums and nerves.

The other villain is Sam Rockwell as a would-be Tony Stark (the press notes referring to him wittily as a polyester imitation). He is an arms dealer with a gift for patter and Rockwell relishes his role as well.

Garry Shandling, who has the last line insult to Iron Man, is a hostile senator in a government hearing. He and others feel that Iron Man's suit is the equivalent of a weapon which rogue individuals or states could reproduce (with some mockery at North Korean and Iranian nuclear ambitions). In fact, the US government is wary. Samuel L. Jackson' s division has their eye on Tony and has its plant, Scarlet Johansson (who gets a chance to do martial arts with flair at the end), in his office. Even the government liaison, Rhodey (Don Cheadle replacing Terrence Howard), Tony's good friend is now wary.

Given that Tony is having difficulties of the heart – his booster against the ill chemical effects of wearing his Iron Man suit is becoming less effective – and he is still squabbling with his assistant Virginia 'Pepper' Potts (a not very lively or persuasive Gwynneth Paltrow). Plus, Tony sees some old footage of his father and his advice to his son. Legacy is important to him.

Director Jon Favreau's part as Tony's driver and bodyguard has been amplified and his in front of camera scenes indicate how much he is enjoying directing the film.

Robert Downey's pep speech at the Stark Expo at the beginning is a tour-de-force of 'I am' and it is gratifying to note at the end that he concurs with the psychological report that states his is extreme narcissism.

All going commercially normally, Iron Man will be back.

1. The anticipation of this sequel? Fulfilling expectations? Continuing the story and themes? Repetitions of incidents and style from the first film?

2. The American setting, New York City, Flushing Meadow and its elaborate show business style? The contrast with Washington DC, the Senate hearings? Prisons? The contrast with Russia, the squalor? The sequences in Monaco, the views of the city, the sea? The racing, the crashes? The pounding score?

3. The special effects, the expo, the air technology, the flights, the racing and the explosions, the battles?

4. Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark, continuing his character from the first film, now accepted worldwide as Iron Man, the saviour of the world, privatising peace? His arrival at the expo, his suit? Applause, the keynote speech – and his focus on ‘I’ and ‘us’, on legacy? His indebtedness to his father – and the video clip of his father and the explanations, the expo? Pepper as his secretary, assisting him? The problems with his heart, the metals from the suit and their effect on him, the elements needed to preserve his life? His emotions, his tests, his matter-of-fact attitude towards Pepper?

5. His being summoned to the Senate hearing, the senator and his insidious questions, Tony and Pepper’s reaction, his replies, Justin Hammer and his presence, speech, aping Tony Stark? Tony and his win, Rhodes and his presence, the concerns about the government, the slides? The issue of whether Tony’s iron man suit was a weapon and needed to be nationalised for security?

6. Tony working in the lab, the puzzles, the search for the element? His handing over the administration to Pepper, her surprise? Natalie at work, his reaction? Rhodey and the suit, the fight? Rhodey and his going to Hammer for the weapons, the tests of all the weapons, Justin’s spiel, the reaction and buying the goods?

7. The Russian sequences, Tony’s speech on television, Ivan’s father, the partnership with Howard Stark, his presence in the US, the defection, his being sent back to Russia, his bitterness? His bequest to his son? Ivan in prison, release? Creating a new suit? Ivan and his building it, the details of these scenes, his going to Monaco to confront Tony?

8. Monaco, the race, Pepper’s presence, concern, the crashes, the fight with Ivan, Ivan being taken, imprisoned, Tony’s visit to him? Ivan in prison, the treatment, the set-up for his being freed, the explosions, Hammer and his using Ivan?

9. Justin Hammer, his style, polyester version of Tony Stark, his vanity, his speech to the Senate, with Ivan, the contract, Ivan at work, the plan, Hammer disappointed, confronting Ivan?

10. Tony, the edgy relationship with Pepper, her trying to run the business, her criticisms of him, avoiding him? Natalie and her presence, her siding with Pepper? The gift of the videos of his father, his father’s explanation, the new element, the experiments, success, reinvigorating his heart? Going to the expo?

11. The demonstration, the suits, the robots, the forces, the attack, people fleeing, Rhodey and his suit, being manipulated, forced to attack Tony, Tony and his flight, the strategies? Pepper being rescued?

12. The finale, the fights, the strategy for Ivan to destroy them, Rhodey and Tony and their blocking his rays and repelling them and destroying him?

13. The character of Happy, bodyguard, driver, wisecracks, his loyalty to Tony?

14. Natalie, the discovery of what she really was, the spy for the government, the encounters with Nick Fury, his giving the information to Tony, the briefing meeting with Natalie?

15. Natalie and Happy, going into the complex, Happy and his fighting the one opponent while Natalie disposed of so many of the guards with her martial arts?

16. Love, standing on the roof, Pepper and Tony – a future or not?

17. The medal, Tony and his joking? His achievement, survival – and into a sequel?