Iron Man 2

The last few years have seen a cinematic obsession with superheroes, vigilantes and corporate injustice. Upon debuting in 2008, the Iron Man franchise laughed in this trend’s face, using Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) wit and singular entrepreneurial virtue to add a fresh twist to the genre. In a difficult follow-up to a brilliant origin story, Iron Man 2 retains the fun of its rogue status but loses much of the complexity and intelligence that made its predecessor such a hit.

The film is much more action-packed than the nuanced Iron Man. Instead of presenting a contemporary idealistic conflict within the military-industrial complex, Ironman 2 defaults to a classic Cold War-era clash of superpowers­. This picture is made complete by Russian antagonist Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) and Tony Stark’s self-identified role as America’s privatized “nuclear deterrent,” complete with fluttering American flag and a fireworks display. Vanko, infuriated by his father’s overlooked legacy, seeks vengeance in bringing down the mighty Iron Man. Along the way, he meets corporate villain and Stark competitor Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), who finances and supports Vanko’s work. Stark and Vanko fight it out in a fierce final battle. Guess who wins.

Where the film progresses significantly in terms of Industrial Light & Magic-furnished graphics and visual punch, it regresses in terms of creativity. Vanko is clearly the evil genius from the start, and Hammer a feeble threat at best. The script dispels the shades of gray present in the first film’s characters in exchange for a very black-and-white, good-guy/bad-guy morality found in most superhero stories.

The film does, however, maintain its predecessor’s wit and sense of humor. Downey Jr.’s performance is once again stellar, transforming an otherwise mediocre plot into something rather enjoyable. All in all, the film retains its forerunner’s fun and excitement for a thrilling ride. But once you remove your safety harness, don’t expect much to stick with you.