Sci-fi action adventure sequel. Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as Tony Stark, the billionaire industrialist also known as armoured superhero Iron Man. With the world now aware of his dual identity, Stark faces pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. With Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James 'Rhodey' Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, Tony fights to protect his suit by forging new alliances - and confronting powerful new enemies. Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke co-star.
| Starring: |
Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Bettany, Samuel L. Jackson, Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sam Rockwell, Don Cheadle, Jon Favreau, Leslie Bibb, Olivia Munn, Kate Mara |
| Director: |
Jon Favreau |
| Run time: |
124 minutes |
| Languages: |
English |
| Distributor: |
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MyMovies
Two years ago a rather curious thing happened. Jon Favreau took a mid-tier character from Marvel's stable of superheroes and ...
Two years ago a rather curious thing happened. Jon Favreau took a mid-tier character from Marvel's stable of superheroes and delivered a chrome-plated slice of fun whilst showing the rest of those comic book suitors just how it's done. Iron Man, as embodied by an untamed Robert Downey Jr, was a resounding success - shattering people's expectations...mainly due to the fact that fans didn't really have any going in to it! This time however there's sequel pay dirt to consider and Shellhead comes burdened with the weight of expectation. Bigger, badder, shinier and better? Yes, yes, undoubtedly yes and not quite. That's the surprising summation of Downey Jr's follow-up as the billionaire-playboy-come-world-saviour, Tony Stark. With the aid of some natty attire Stark has successfully secured a six-month window of world peace...and he's lovin' every minute of it. Of course, there are enemies within and without, waiting for Stark to fall, with the US military machine itching to get their hands on his prized possession and a narked Russian with an Indiana Jones obsession out for revenge. Anyone who's seen Spider-Man 3 will know all too well that more characters can often lead to a lack of direction and purpose. Thankfully Iron Man 2 avoids these pitfalls but it's not without its own baggage. Mickey Rourke's ex-con/physicist Whiplash is criminally underwritten. Screaming at the heavens at the loss of his dad we're meant to believe that a bit of perspiration and elbow grease later the tattooed baddie has fashioned himself a WMD. Of course, this is a comic book romp and so contrivances like this can be overlooked as symptoms of the genre but they still leave plenty of questions. Other new members of the cast fare better with Sam Rockwell's anti-Stark, Justin Hammer, nearly stealing the show with a deliriously smarmy turn. Don Cheadle, taking up where Terence Howard left off, effectively makes Rhodey his own and grows in confidence when donning the War Machine armour and, surprisingly, there's a strong showing from Scarlett Johansson as a duplicitous aide-du-camp to Stark. All that and there's still room for Gwyneth Paltrow to lend plenty of heart to the Stark / Pepper Potts relationship, apt considering Iron Man's missing ticker. As with the first film it's the 'quieter moments' that seal the deal, the banter had between Downey Jr. and Paltrow, Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson and Downey Jr. and just about everyone who comes near him. Iron Man / Stark is RDJ's Captain Sparrow and he tears into the role with a limitless abandon. It's his performance more than anything that leaves a mark.Barring the Monaco Grand Prix showdown with Whiplash there's very little that resonates in terms of bang for buck but Iron Man 2 still proves that Stark is the heavy metal front man in the Marvel universe. An ore-some sequel but one that doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor.
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Press Association
Billionaire industrialist and inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) embraces his dual life as the supersonic Iron Man, and wins ...
Billionaire industrialist and inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) embraces his dual life as the supersonic Iron Man, and wins countless fans in the process. However, the US government and private investors are keen to acquire his technology for their own needs and Stark resists at all costs. Aided by beautiful assistant Virginia "Pepper" Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and good friend, Lieutenant Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Don Cheadle), Stark attempts to keep his invention secret from prying eyes. However, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) 'acquires' the Iron man technology and uses it to transform himself into the deadly Whiplash.
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