IRON MAN 2
RYAN: After two years of anticipation, we’ve finally seen the sequel to Iron Man!
CAROLINE: Honey, it was worth the wait. Robert Downey Jr. is hot and he’s still got it. And Mickey Rourke is a surprisingly welcome addition.
RYAN: I know you were concerned about his Russian accent, but he did a good job. And it actually serves the role well how terrible he looks these days.
CAROLINE: That face is tough to look at. He’s also got weird hands and fingernails, which there are a lot of close-ups of. But it’s all very appropriate for the character. His opening confrontation with Iron Man is seriously awesome.
RYAN: All the action and fight scenes were on another level. The special effects are so good, especially given the era we’re in now with Avatar and the incredible 3D that’s out there. For this movie to not be in 3D and still be so amazing is a real testament to director Jon Favreau.
CAROLINE: He’s all grow’d up, isn’t he! I’m so impressed. And I love that he cast himself as Iron Man’s driver. He has a slightly bigger role than in the first one, and he’s so funny. I can’t help but think of Swingers, which I loved, of course, and how far he’s come since then.
RYAN: I’m so thrilled to see Gwyneth Paltrow working again; she really hasn’t made many movies lately. She looks gorge, and she did an amazing job. Her part is bigger in this one too, and I loved her story line.
CAROLINE: I think she was wearing Bumpits for a good portion of the film. Her hair always had an appropriate poof.
RYAN: [laughs’ It totally worked for her.
CAROLINE: She’s great for this role because her character is naggy and uptight, and I think that’s how a lot of people envision her in real life, whether or not it’s true. We’ve also got the new addition of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, and her makeup is f-l-a-w-l-e-s-s! She looked incredible; though her part isn’t that big.
RYAN: I loved that dark red hair color on her, and her body looked amazing.
CAROLINE: I prefer her as a blond, but whatever. She’s beyond gorge, and whoever did her makeup needs to do her makeup for every movie she makes from here on out.
RYAN: She was better and more believable in this role than anything I’ve seen her in recently.
CAROLINE: Yeah, her acting wasn’t as painful as it sometimes is. I thought she’d have more action scenes though… there’s really only one. But all in all, this is a thoroughly enjoyable movie and a worthy sequel. Robert Downey Jr. is just phenom, and I loved the story and was never bored.
RYAN: Honestly, I had feelings of euphoria at several points during the movie. I was like, “Am I on drugs?” because I am seriously loving this. Oh, and Sam Rockwell plays a villainous type, and when he first came on screen, I was like, “What – Gary Oldman wasn’t available?”
CAROLINE: He did have a very Gary O. vibe in this movie. I didn’t love him; he sort of annoyed me. But I guess his character was supposed to. And speaking of Garys, Garry Shandling has a small role in this too, and he has never looked worse.
RYAN: I know! All I kept thinking was, “Calista Flockhart used to make out with that?!”
CAROLINE: I think it’s a combo of a serious weight gain and the world’s worst plastic surgery. I think he had a second neck added.
RYAN: It’s beyond. Don Cheadle is also in this, taking over the role that Terrence Howard originated. And Samuel L. Jackson has a bit part too.
CAROLINE: Don’t forget to stay until the end of the credits for that bonus scene, just like in the first one!
— BOTTOM LINE —
RYAN: We had incredibly high expectations for this movie, and I liked it as much as the first one. Sequels are so often not nearly as good as the originals, but that’s not the case at all here. It’s totally worth the price of admission. I could even see myself seeing it again.
CAROLINE: I didn’t love it as much as you, though I really liked it. I missed some of Robert Downey Jr.’s quirky witticisms from the first one; some of the character’s novelty has worn off. The first movie was such a surprise to everyone, so of course we’re not going to have that exact feeling again this time. But overall, it’s a really fun movie. Let the blockbuster season begin!
— RATING —
