I never thought I’d say it, but I really think it’s true: The best part of Iron Man 2 is Gwyneth Paltrow.
That’s a bit of a surprise, given that this franchise stars Robert Downey Jr. in all his snarky, scene-stealing, unabashed Downey-ness, and that this sequel features a highly-publicized, creepily sinister turn by Mickey Rourke (as the villain Whiplash)—to say nothing of the fact that, in the first film, Paltrow’s role was fairly minor, serving more as a plot device than as a rounded character. She only has slightly more screen time here, yet her character, Pepper Potts, serves to summarize just about everything that’s great about these two films—and the areas in which this sequel makes small strides forward from its predecessor.
Pepper is the personal assistant to Tony Stark (Downey), a cocky billionaire inventor who moonlights not-so-secretly-anymore as the world-saving techno-hero Iron Man. She’s as close to Stark as he will allow her to be—which is to say, not very, but she knows him better than anyone, and for some reason, she still seems pretty nuts about the narcissistic jerk. There’s always been romantic tension between the two, and here it bubbles over into some wickedly funny scenes in which the two of them play off each other with one deadpan barb after another. The sparks that fly in these scenes are the film’s greatest special effect.
And that’s saying something: This movie has a lot of cool CG work, and the action sequences are every bit as thrilling as those in the first. But the vigorous work between Paltrow and Downey emphasizes the greatest asset that this cast—and director Jon Favreau—brings to the Iron Man movies, and that’s their childlike enthusiasm.
This franchise has never given any indication of wanting to be something as grave or as meaningful as Christopher Nolan’s recent Batmanmovies, or even as socially and politically aware as the X-Men flicks. There are some throwaway lines here in which Whiplash (Rourke) hints at deeper personal and political ramifications for what Stark is doing—how his world-saving exploits have left a trail of dead behind him—but the movie seems to grow bored of this theme long before it offers anything substantive to say about it.
And that’s probably for the best. Leave the politics and the big statements to other superhero franchises; Favreau’s films want nothing more than to give the most blockbuster bang for buck, to be the comic-bookiest of all the big superhero franchises.
They cram as much plot into this second episode as they can—big happenings for Stark and his company, plus plenty of new characters and plot threads—while still keeping things to a relatively streamlined two-hour running time. One of the first scenes is of our hero defending himself—in typical over-the-top fashion—during a Senate hearing, in which an old curmudgeon tries and fails to seize the Iron Man suit for the U.S. defense department. That subplot that runs through the movie, but splinters off in other directions too: Stark spars with a rival weapons designer named Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), does battle with the grubby but devilish Whiplash, and finds himself increasingly entangled with the mysterious S.H.I.E.L.D. group, even as he seeks to unravel a decades-old mystery involving his late father’s most secret invention. Oh yeah: Did I mention that he’s dying of metal poisoning from wearing the suit too much?
Those 124 minutes fly by, Favreau keeping a bumpy but ultimately efficient pace, the film crackling with energy and wit and vitality, the actors—especially Downey and Paltrow—investing all their vim and vigor into selling this story and these characters.
Indeed, there’s something beguilingly old-fashioned about this movie, at least as summer blockbusters go; it actually seems like everyone involved is working extremely hard to ensure that the audience is having a terrific time. Their enthusiasm is winsome, and it pays off in spades: This is the kind of movie that can juggle hilarious comic-book geek in-jokes with more populist fare, that can remain true to the story’s roots while providing its own fresh attitude, that can expand the Iron Man universe in every direction without feeling like it’s growing bloated or tiresome. And there’s more forward momentum than in the first movie; while the initial Iron Man felt almost like a prologue, an origins story to establish the latest Marvel franchise, this one is more robust, more substantive.
Which is not to say that it’s any deeper or more rounded: As with the first movie, so much time is spent lighting the fireworks of superhero action scenes and Downey’s deadpan wit that characterization gets the short end of the stick. Scarlett Johansson, new to the franchise, plays a character (Natalie Rushman) who serves essentially to pave the way toward the eventual Avengers film (and to provide eye candy for ogling teenage boys), while both Rourke and Rockwell are two-dimensional. Don Cheadle, in the role of Stark’s friend James Rhodes, doesn’t make much more of an impression here than Terrence Howard did in the same role in the first film; “Rhodey” doesn’t really figure into the film as a pivotal character until the final act. But maybe that’s just in keeping with the Iron Man spirit; if they don’t work as characters, they at least work as comic book stand-ins, Rourke being suitably weird and menacing, Rockwell hamming it up in a way that would steal the whole movie if he were matched up against anyone but Downey.
And then there’s Paltrow: Once again, she’s the movie’s real muscle, and not just because of her energy and wit, or even her chemistry with the leading man. She’s also the film’s beating heart: While Favreau and screenwriter Justin Theroux may gloss over other on-screen characters and relationships, the one between Pepper Potts and Tony Stark is actually fleshed out a bit here. There is romance, and there is also real compassion. It’s a sign of the franchise not just expanding, but actually deepening. These two—Paltrow and Downey—are not just building action figures, but characters that we care about. And by the time this second movie ends, that becomes just as important as the film’s energy and humor: We don’t just want to spend time with this movie, but with these people.
Talk About It
Discussion starters- What do you think about Ivan Vanko’s accusations about the Stark family and their bloody past? Do you think he raises valid points? Do you think that Stark—or the movie in general—take his plight seriously enough?
- Do you think Stark is right to want to keep the Iron Man suit for himself—or should he yield to the wishes of people like Sen. Stern?
- How would you characterize the relationship between Tony and Pepper? Is it healthy? Are they good for each other?
The Family Corner
For parents to considerIron Man 2 is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and for some language. The violence is of the typical comic-book movie variety; there are fistfights and explosions and people with guns, but only a couple of scenes that briefly show any blood or gore. It isn’t nearly as brutal as, say, The Dark Knight. There is also some mild language here and there, as well as plenty of sexual innuendo and double entendres.
Photos © Paramount
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