Iron Man 2 (2010)

Rated: PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language.
Length: 124 min
Grade: DC-DD=D
Budget: $200 million
Box Office: $605 million in 7 weeks(305 U.S., 300 Intl.,)

Written by: Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder)
Directed by: Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Zathura, and Elf)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke
With: Samuel L. Jackson, Jon Favreau, Paul Bettany, Kate Mara, and Garry Shandling.

Summary:

Iron Man is preserving world peace, but a flaw in his power source is slowly killing him. When an evil Russian genius creates his own version of Iron Man, they battle, but Stark loses. To win and live, he must discover and create his own brand new element to fuel his power safely. Luckly for him, his father left him the clues he may need.

Entertainment Value: D

I love comic books, and Iron Man was one of the ones I read growing up. But just like the first one, this is terrible. At least it’s not quite as vulgar, but both my wife and I thought this was awful. When you realize the movies on the resume of these makers, it’s not so mysterious why this didn’t work.

Superficial Content: C-

Drugs/Alcohol C, Sex/Nudity C, Violence C, Language C

Several characters drink and Tony Stark gets drunk at his birthday party, while wearing his Iron Man armor. Language is right in the middle of the PG-13 scale, not terrible, but lots of sexual innuendo. There’s no sex, but there are lots of skimpily clad women. The main concern is likely violence, although I felt this one was less gruesome than the first, which opened with that scene of him doing heart surgery.

Significant Content: D

If you’re an arrogant, self-indulgent narcissist, at least you can redeem yourself through brilliant military technology. Russians are real bad guys.

Artistic/Thought Value: D

Thought value…let me think…nope, I can’t really think of anything.

Discussion Questions:
~How do you think you would react to the prospect of dying at a young age if you were as brilliant as Stark?
~Are there any people in this movie whom you would classify as a hero? Is Tony Stark a hero? Do you feel any pity for Hammer or Vanko?
~What do you think of Stark’s refusal to give his suit and technology over to the American government? Should he trust them more, as an American citizen? Is something being said about American’s keeping so much military technology to themselves and not sharing it with the world?

Poignant or memorable scenes:
~No, not really.

Overall Grade: D

Unless you want to watch a long Audi ad predicated on some absurd violence. Is Robert Downey Jr. better as Tony Stark or as Sherlock Holmes? Answer, he’s exactly the same guy in both roles, just with an accent, which is why neither franchise is entertaining.