“WHIPS OF TERROR”
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell
Directed by: Jon Favreau
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language.
Genre: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Adaptation and Sequel
Release date: May 7, 2010
By John Delia
There will be no stopping the power of Iron Man 2 with all the media hype, great trailers and television spots leading the way to a box-office winner. Having seen the film I can say that for comic book enthusiasts, sci-fi superhero fanatics and high-powered action lovers your expectations will be fulfilled. If there is a flaw in the film get hold of a dictionary and look up the word absurd. But it’s not going to deter the sale of tickets at the boxoffice for a number of weeks.
Here is a thumbnail of the movie. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) shows up at his military technology expo after announcing on world wide TV that he is Iron Man. At the same time Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), the son of a Russian scientist who was instrumental in developing the science that keeps Iron Man blazing, has found his fathers blueprints of the mechanism. In a lab the brilliant man develops a weapon that can defeat the iron superhero and he’s determined to do so. When Stark gets a taste of Vanko’s electric whip, he goes back to his lab to find a defense.
This time, instead of a handsome businessman villain, director Jon Favreau goes to the dark side and picks Rourke to play the adversary. After seeing the film I can’t think of anyone better to bring Whiplash to life than the tough looking Rourke. Dressed in a gladiator garment with whips of amour cutting electricity, Rourke as Whiplash slashes cars in half showing a frightening display of power.
Downey Jr. keeps the laughs coming with his narcissistic personality while showing off in front of the world and the U.S. Military. In support an energetic Don Cheadle takes on the James “Rhodey†Rhodes character doing an admirable job. But why wouldn’t he, considering an enigmatic Terrance Howard was Rhodey in the originally.
Adding Scalett Johansson in the role of a marshal arts wiz is a nice touch. Her persona reminds me of the character Hit-Girl (Chloe Moretz) in Kick-Ass. There’s one scene in Iron Man 2 where if I didn’t know the two films were written by different scriptwriters and lensed at different studios you’d think it was a grown up Hit-Girl spinning and kicking.
The only downsides I could find are the absurdities and impossibilities that get
entrenched in all comic book hero films. But it’s the amazement needed to make the film work like explosions where no one gets hurt, a cool ad for Audi that comes out of nowhere, and an Iron man suit in a suitcase to name a few. Of course the biggest absurdity is the fact that the film opened in Europe a week earlier before coming to America.
Iron Man 2 is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language.
FINAL ANALYSIS:Â Not as brilliant as the first go around but worthy. (4 of 5 Palm Trees)