‘Iron Man 2′ matches up to original

Fighting off the demons of sequel-itis, rescuing teenagers across the land from weekend boredom, and landing to thunderous applause in a cinema near you is “Iron Man 2,” the summer’s first must-see blockbuster.

Though no longer a novelty, “Iron Man 2” is still an absolutely entertaining ride through the life and super suit of weapons mogul and engineer extraordinaire Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.).

After revealing his identity as Iron Man at the end of the first movie, Stark has become the most important man in the world, further boosting his already massive ego. In addition, he’s also become an open target for two main villains.

Mickey Rourke plays brilliant, but malevolent physicist Ivan Venko while Sam Rockwell is weapons businessman Justin Hammer, who join forces to battle Stark for revenge and power respectively. The two are on complete opposites of the villain spectrum: Rockwell the snobby and obnoxious bad guy with expensive clothes and fine dining tastes while Rourke is the hardcore Russian badass covered in tattoos and an almost all gold teeth grill.

Despite combining the personality flaws of both his nemeses, Stark is a likeable hero, with unmatched charm and constant one-liners. Like in the first, Downey absolutely nails his role and his performance is worth the price of admission alone. Rourke and Rockwell’s portrayals of their characters are just as delightful.

Compared to the original, not only are the villains more enjoyable, but so is the action they set off. Ironically, some superhero films have a dearth of explosions and intense action. “Iron Man 2” on the other hand, keeps bringing them, and features at least one moment that will elicit an audible “ooh” from the crowd.

The script wisely focuses on Downey, as Stark becomes a multidimensional character who is rapidly self-destructing. His reckless behavior is followed by periods of remorse, all showing contrasting sides to Stark’s brazen, pretentious attitude that were not explored in the first. All the while, though, Stark still has fun, continuously earning smiles from viewers with his wit, or getting a senator to cuss at him on national television.

The two villains are just two of many side characters in this story. Gwyneth Paltrow returns as Stark’s assistant Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle replaces Terrence Howard as Lt. Col James Rhodes. Rhodes also dons the ego “War Machine,” which does not disappoint on its awesome name.

Finally of note is Scarlett Johansson’s introduction as Natalie Rushmore, a girl so hot she makes Stark, who has everything a man can dream of, whisper “I want one.”

With so many characters and even more subplots, the film can at times feel a bit muddled. “Iron Man 2” is a jumping point for not only “Iron Man” sequels, but also other super hero movies in the same universe. Viewers may have to check their brains at the door for a few sections, but the film is never dull and moves a brisk pace.

Cutting and editing at times can be issues as well, especially in the beginning sequence, where there is simply too much material to pack into the two-hour film.

Though it does not push the boundaries of the superhero genre, as “The Dark Knight” did, “Iron Man 2” is just as entertaining as its predecessor. Though some viewers may have been expecting a greater advancement from the first, they will still leave the theaters having had enjoyed themselves much as Stark seems to.

And, like with the first, don’t forget to stay after the credits for another reveal.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.