What can one say about Tony Stark,aptly personified on screen by Robert Downey Jr. Brash,unapologetic,playboy,cynic and at times narcissistic too,not the way we have seen our textbook superheroes. Director John Favreau takes these characteristics and establishes the perfect connection with audiences. Time and again we have seen how many a superhero sequel has failed to live up to the expectations of the audience. Iron Man in 2008 was a robust introduction and the sequel has succeeded in taking the story forward.
The basic premise for the sequel is how Tony Stark realizes his father's dream and vision and his subsequent indoctrination to S.H.I.E.L.D. For the uninitiated S.H.I.E.L.D is a super secret government initiative of super men and women dedicated to protect America. Samuel L.Jackson's cameo as SHIELD agent Nick Fury has the responsibility of reining in Tony Stark's eccentricity and ignite his genius.
Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts has some serious competition this time round with Scarlett Johanson as SHIELD agent a.k.a the Black Widow. A small chink in the armor is the transformation of best friend and ally of tony stark, Col. James Rhodes into the War Machine. Don Cheadle looks haplessly out of place in an action movie,well we wouldn't mind if we see someone like Will Smith in part 3. Mickey Rourke walks and talks like the proverbial russian renegade scientist Ivan Vanko,until he puts on a iron man suit himself. I must give it to the director,the Monaco Grand Prix scene with the entry of Whiplash was outstanding.Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer of Hammer Weapons Inc; brings his own brand of villainy style and panache to a character so well documented in the marvel iron man series.
All these characters are intertwined with the IRON MAN series and are thus an integral part, as we look ahead to more mayhem in the coming years. Action sequences,visualization and tech show apart, IRON MAN 2 works without toeing the atypical superhero line. Well we all agree with Howard Stark,Tony is indeed your best creation.
