Movie Review: Iron Man 2
IRON MAN 2
(2010, PARAMOUNT, PG-13, 125 min.)
Iron Man 2 premiered last Friday at Minaret Cinemas (showing through May 28). Though it’s received mixed reviews from so-called experts, who have criticized the film for things like, “lack of plot,” and “too much product endorsement,” young men and older men (more than likely living vicariously through a younger man) leave the film performing Jersey Shore fist pumps.
Plot? There’s plenty of plot. We’re talking about a billionaire in a metal robot suit, flying around fighting cyborgs and hooking up with supermodels! This isn’t Gogol’s Overcoat.
First off let me point out an important fact, do you have any idea how many Whoppers we’re all going to have to eat to finance these movies? You can’t have an awesome action movie without product endorsement, and it’ll be a sad day when I see a superhero blockbuster without a Dr. Pepper can in it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with watching a two hour long action packed commercial film featuring the online capabilities and reliability of the LG Ally smartphone.
Sure there are some holes in the character development, like the fact that Tony Stark’s nemesis in the film, Ivan Vanko (played by Mickey Rourke) is mysteriously missing for about half the film. Consequently this results in a final stand-off featuring Iron Man and some guy I saw a long time ago that looks like a robot version of Rourke with a mustache. But who cares?! He lays a Ted DiBiase smackdown on Rourke.
Okay there’s been some chatter about how the script isn’t that great because there are lines like, “I wasn’t Googling her I was ogling her.” Big deal. If a guy does a slow motion walk away from a huge explosion or cuts an F1 race car in half with an electric whip, I don’t care if he sings the theme song to Diff’rent Strokes.
Which brings me to one of the best things about the film, Scarlett Johansson. The film sets her up as a quiet, unassuming type who eventually whups some serious ass. Yeah, it’s a tired formula we’ve seen before but it works (Under Siege, Kick Ass). On the topic of Johansson, if you’re a Twilight fan you will not be disappointed because there’s an abundance of awkward scenes featuring Johansson pursing her lips and pouting similar to Kristen Stewart.
Pouting aside, in a crowded season full of superhero flicks, Iron Man 2 doesn’t disappoint. Creating a sequel that can follow the success of the original blockbuster is nearly impossible and director Jon Favreau solves this problem with a Michael Bay formula of CGI and “not great talking.” But in the end you’ll still leave the theater with a sore shoulder (from all your fist-pumping).
*For all you comic book nerds, stick around after the credits for a preview to a possible Thor movie. For show times call Minaret Cinemas at 760.924.8124
