IRON MAN 2 (2010)

The first story you tell in almost any Comic Book/Super-Hero film is the Creation Myth. That gets you thru episode 1, but how to follow it up? In theory, you need a sturdy plot to hang your Super-Hero characterization, powers & limitations on, but in fact, there’s usually enough goodwill left over to carry you past the shoals of narrative sophomoritis. That’s the case in IRON MAN 2 where a gaggle of big names join Robert Downey, Jr. & Gwyneth Paltrow, but are given little to do. They all vamp* thru a wan story about defense contract wars (yawn) and eventually meet the villainous Iron Man wannabe from Russia. There’s a fresh idea! The best of the newbies is (no surprise) Sam Rockwell, who brings his usual precision & speed to his routines. Everybody else phones it in, except for Mickey Rourke who you wish would phone it in. (They do get Samuel Jackson seated at a diner, but don’t get your hopes up.) At best, it’s a passable time-waster for the more promising #3. Stay tuned thru the credits to see for yourself. *Poor Scarlett Johansson literally vamps. It’s a little embarrassing.