Iron Man 2

Rating: ****

Superman used to be nice,humble beings till along came Tony Stark. He is unapologetically rich,spolit,a playboy and makes arms for a living. If Favreau and Downey Jr brilliantly etched the suit and the man within it,and how one defines the other,in Iron Man,they take it one step further in the sequel.

Again,unlike all the supermen who came before him,Stark stands there on a glittering stage and reveals himself to the world as The Iron Man,squired by cheergirls,and goes on to declare that he has “risen like the phoenix” to keep the world and Uncle Sam a safe place.

His blood toxicity levels are rising and the machine fitted in his heart that’s keeping him alive may be killing him. But is that alone to explain for Stark’s erratic behaviour — from grand expos to giving away his art collection to making his assistant Potts (Paltrow) the CEO of his company?

The thing with Downey Jr is it’s hard to tell. See his virtuoso performance at the Senate “Weaponised Suit Defence Programme” hearing. In layman’s language,it’s about Stark’s Iron Man suit,which the government believes is hazardous left to him,and which he believes is his well-earned “high-tech prosthetic” to keep because of all he has done for world peace. No prizes for guessing who wins that debate,and walks away with applause ringing behind.

The hearing throws up another character who is a Tony without the spark. That’s a weapon manufacturer rival,Hammer (Rockwell). He is desperate to “pee on Spark’s parade” any how,including by making supermen suits of his own. In this venture he secretes out of jail Ivan Vanko (Rourke),who fashioned an energy source similar to Stark’s and took him on at the Monaco Grand Prix in a breathtaking encounter. That is one of Iron Man 2’s greatest scenes,as Ivan walks on to the track covered in metal and wires and holding on to two live-wire ropes. He slices everything on sight with one crack of those things. It leaves Stark shaken,and sets the film up for one great conflict.

Favreau plays his actors’ abilities to their best. Take Rourke,a fascinating personality by any standards,rendered even more so here. But any more time on screen and Ivan could have become jarring with his tics,tattoos and mumbled Russian. Downey’s sardonic sense of humour and audaciousness too is played to full advantage — including a drunken dance sequence where he jives in his Iron Man suit at what he believes to be “my last birthday party”. Paltrow is prim and Scarlett is full purple. Her act as one of the Avengers superheroes is short-lived,but you won’t forget it.

And the film seems to be betting on the same,by giving us tantalising glimpses of characters who may be in store. Iron Man 3? Bring it on.

shalini.langer@expressindia.com