Looking back (already) at Iron Man 2

WARNING: minor spoilers below...

As the credits rolled during Iron Man 2, I glanced over and saw a young lady with a video camera bootlegging it. Then she proved she’s not just a criminal, but a fool. She got up and left. Did she not see Iron Man 1? The Incredible Hulk? X-Men: The Last Stand? You stay until after the credits at these Marvel movies for a glimpse of what’s to come! 75 percent of the audience knew that and sat there with me (my apologies for not ratting the girl out, but I would have missed the cool moment I’m referring to. Let the rest of you be warned: don’t buy the Iron Man 2 bootleg – you’ll miss out!).

In this space last week, I mentioned that Iron Man 2 wasn’t screened for critics, and its $134 million may have proved it critic-proof anyway. So now that we’ve all seen it, let’s compare notes. (Bootlegger: rewind your tape and follow along. You’ll need to since you proved you weren’t really one of us).

It was a good movie that entertained me (it will be ranked “It Is What It Is”) on my own website, but there was something lacking. I think it missed the depth that Robert Downey, Jr. is capable of. Tony Stark is still very funny, but Iron Man 1 was so good because he was also kind of real – a grownup who suddenly had to confront his life’s work and assess whether or not he was a war profiteer. Stark has some issues here too (we’re seeing hints of the Marvel comic series legendary “Demon in a Bottle” story), but why? Whiplash beats him up a little and he goes into all kinds of self-doubt? He’s had bigger problems.

Why do AC/DC get an entire soundtrack album devoted to their music when there are only two AC/DC songs in the movie?

Did I miss the part where he flies off and tells Pepper, “You complete me?” You know: the quote that was in every commercial?

The movie’s best parts for this comic book geek are the hints at the forthcoming Avengers movie. As a comic book fan, I’ve only read Iron Man sporadically. But I always read the Avengers because I think Iron Man is more interesting when he interacts with the rest of the Marvel Universe. So him sitting in a diner in his armor with the Black Widow and Nick Fury? Captain America’s shield showing up? Excelsior!

And like a good comic book movie, there’s great action. Whiplash slicing up race cars was tremendous. The introduction of War Machine was exciting, as was the two teaming up against the army of Iron Drones.

Bottom line: I enjoyed Iron Man but was disappointed in Tony Stark.

Finally: to the person filing out behind me. NO. You’re wrong when you say “I guess that means there’s gonna be an Iron Man 3.” $134 million in one weekend means there’s gonna be an Iron Man 3. But you missed the point. You’re THORoughly wrong.

Iron Man 2 is at Pittsford Cinemas, Loews Webster 12, Tinseltown in Gates, and Regal Cinemas at Culver Ridge, Eastview, Greece Ridge & Henrietta.