A Lively Superhero Film for Those Who Prefer Action Over Angst
“Iron Man 2” presents the story of Tony Stark, the arms dealer turned superhero with a self-made iron suit, as he battles a formidable Russian genius, military bureaucracy, and his own declining health.
It’s well-known that comic books appeal to imaginative neurotics. Only someone who’s been bullied can truly relate to the X-Men’s experiences. Only someone who struggled with romance in high school can fully appreciate the fantasy of transforming into Superman. And only someone who’s felt the burning rage of helplessness can understand the Hulk. Tony Stark, however, is different. He’s not an outcast but a playboy: rich, successful, a charming cynic and rogue. He enjoys racing, expensive champagne, supermodels, and travel – all thanks to his wealth.
A Superhero Film Tailored for Men’s Health Readers
While all comic books and their adaptations are aimed at boys, “Iron Man” is particularly so. This film franchise seems designed for readers of Men’s Health and Maxim, who aren’t interested in Batman’s soul-searching or Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man. Here, a handsome, wealthy man races cars, owns the coolest gadgets, and chooses between Scarlett Johansson and Gwyneth Paltrow as his love interest. Everyone loves him, even the trees seem to wave in admiration.
He’s irresponsible, but neither those around him nor the writers seriously punish him. Instead, they scold him like a boy who stole an apple. The soundtrack features AC/DC, and his opponent isn’t a grotesque creature in makeup but a tough guy named Ivan Vanko, covered in tattoos, raised in prison, and tech-savvy. Stark even opens their first conversation with, “Impressive design. The cyclicity was a bit low. You could have doubled the rotation.”
Megalomania and Redemption
Tony’s fantasies lead to megalomania – he starts believing he’s the best, and is quickly brought down to earth. Sam Raimi explored a similar theme in “Spider-Man 3,” where the hero was consumed by vanity, only to be saved by the sound of church bells. But while Raimi’s film felt like a Sunday sermon for children, Jon Favreau’s version is reminiscent of Soviet literature: the individualist on a slippery slope is promised a bright future in a healthy collective of superhero “Avengers.” And, as is typical in American popular culture, Tony finds salvation and support in his family, receiving helpful advice from his long-deceased inventor father via old film reels.
Embracing Irony and Entertainment
What’s enjoyable about “Iron Man 2” is its irony. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, openly acknowledging to the audience that it’s a silly two-hour fairy tale. The film invites viewers to relax and enjoy the ride. As a result, Robert Downey Jr.'s megalomaniacal antics, Mickey Rourke’s exaggerated Russian gloom, Scarlett Johansson’s diligent portrayal of a feisty spy, battles with dozens of robots, and the compact portable hadron collider that the hero builds at home all combine into an appealing spectacle. It might not be as charming as the first “Iron Man,” but it’s certainly not irritating.