I’ve been looking forward to this one for quite a while as most of the geeks around the world have. In that context I know a lot of you will be conscious of having the movie spoiled by divulging too much. I was very lucky to see the film without having seen any reviews before but it’s almost impossible to review this fully without going into detail. So I’ll give a quick opinion in the next paragraph and then go on to the full review. 
Did it live up to expectations considering they were so high universally? Not for me. In terms of what I was expecting, Iron Man 2 suffered from middle film syndrome. I’ll explain that. There’s just a bit too much going on. We know Iron Man (the ever excellent Downey Jnr.) but we’re introduced to two new villains, more members of SHIELD, a senate committee and developed roles for Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Jim Rhodes (Don Cheadle). Is it a good movie? Certainly and one I’ll probably see again and that’s down to the stronger elements of the film (like the action sequences and Sam Rockwell’s performance). If you want more details, and potential spoilers, read on.
The movie opens in Russia as we’re introduced to villan Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke). References to Stark litter the workshop as he builds a suit with an arc reactor similar to that which keeps Tony Stark alive. Leaving Russia behind, we catch up with Stark himself as he opens the Stark Expo (check out exhibits here and here). He’s confident, even cocky, and justifiably so as he’s successfully “privatised world peace”. The US government aren’t happy with one man having such power and demand he hand the suit over at a Senate Committee. 
It’s at this juncture that we meet Justin Hammer (Rockwell), a rival weapons industrialist, who’s made to look foolish when Stark proves that evidence suggesting other countries are developing similar robotic suits is proved false. Downey Jnr. thrives on moments like this as he delivers some great one liners but Stark behind doors is a different man. He’s hiding the fact that the very device which is keeping him alive, is slowly killing him.
Instead of focusing on the darker elements of the developing story, Jon Favreau chooses to kick things up a notch with a fantastic scene at the Monaco Grand Prix. As Stark races around the track, looking to prove he’s still almost invincible, Vanko rudely interrupts the fun with electrified whips cutting cars in two. The films strongest moments are certainly the action scenes and this will prove one of the best of the year. The strength of that scene in particular is the fact that there seems to be genuine risk to Stark’s life. In the latter half of the film, where Stark is joined by Jim Rhodes in another Iron Man suit, the battles feel strangely muted. There’s damage being inflicted but characters don’t seem to be feeling pain.
In the second and third acts, there’s quite a bit going on. Tony Stark is coping with the need to find an alternative energy source for the arc reactor, there’s the tension with Rhodes over control of the suits, a new member of SHIELD looking to assist Tony in getting his head right and Hammer and Vanko’s efforts to take him down completely. That’s my core problem with the movie. Rockwell and Rourke are good villains and Downey Jnr. knows Stark like no other, delivering some great lines. There’s obvious nods to further Marvel based movies in the future and I hope that this film is a weaker link in the string of movies. As it stands it’s an entertaining, if very busy, action movie but for me, it isn’t as strong as the original Iron Man.
UPDATE: It appears as if there is a post credits sequence so stick around for that. There wasn’t one at our screening.
Rourke looks incredible in the role. Does he live up to expectations?
** Potential spoilers in the comments too folks, be careful **
@Darren: He’s quite menacing but he’s busy in a lab for the second act so you don’t see as much of him.
I totally agree. Rourke is good but we don’t get enough of him. In fact, we don’t get enough of any of the characters because there are far too many of them. Could have been great, is instead… quite good.
dying to see this movie! Hopefully as a comic book geek it’ll live up to my expectations….can’t wait to see what the scene after the credits is either!
@Brogen: We’re pretty much on the same page about it alright.
@Dr. Manfattan: There’s no post credits scene. We waited around in vain.
Apparently there is a post credits scene but it doesn’t seem to be attached to all copies of the film. I’ll be pretty peeved if I end up not getting to see the scene which is rumoured to set up the Avengers.
There’s a few sites around telling those of us who’ve seen the movie but not the after-credits scene what it contains. I really wish I’d seen it now. Maybe I’ll catch it Friday when I go again.
@Anto @Brogen I’m in full agreement with the two of you on this movie. I did enjoy the hell out of it though. I rather enjoyed reading both your reviews after the screening last night. Nice job! (Is this where I pimp mine?
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@Mark: I’ve amended the post.
@Niall: Cheers
Feel free to plug your review btw.
Excellent. It’s over on Scannain.com.
Great review.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’d go and see it again.
I reviewed it here
Just back from seeing it - thoroughly enjoyed the flick, it lives up to the definition of blockbuster perfectly.
You’re right Anto, I think it does shy away from darkness and, at times, emotional depth and it is definitely a bit busy, but, to be honest, I didn’t really mind and definitely would go see it again. Downey Jnr was dripping with charisma, almost as much as Scar Jo was oozing sex appeal.
There’s a slight sag in the middle, but it seems almost like a breather - a welcome respite before the dramatic (albeit quite predictable) metal-clashing finale.
The scene at the end of the credits was great, gave everyone who stuck around to wait for it a good buzz!
@Maxi: Cheers mate
@Nathalie: I didn’t expect it to go down the dark route, I’ve worded that bit badly.
Scarlet Johannson was stunning alright, Stark’s “can I have one?” comment made me lol. The finale kind of left me cold as being wrapped inside of the suits, they seem to take all the damage and noone’s sustained real battle wounds. I’m probably being pedantic. I’ll be seeing it again before it leaves the cinema.