Flashback: MCU Edition: Iron Man 2

    Hey everyone, welcome back to Flashback where I look back at different film series and see how they are in reflection. Today we are continuing the MCU with Iron Man 2. I’ve always enjoyed this film but found it to be easily the weakest of the trilogy and one of the weakest MCU films. So I am pleasantly surprised to say that I had a freaking blast with this movie. It is a step down from the first Iron Man for sure, but there is a lot more good here than I remembered. 

    Jon Favreau returns to direct and I think steps it up in the action department. I got shocked at how invested I was when the big action finale rolled around. Robert Downey Jr. is still incredible in every single scene. I could watch his Tony Stark just talk for hours. Gwyneth Paltrow is much better this time around. She has a lot more to do, and I thought handled the emotional scenes really well. This is also the introduction of Black Widow, now famously played by Scarlett Johansson. The way they introduce her character into the story works a lot better than I remember it. Don Cheadle replaces Terrence Howard and makes a much stronger impression as Rhodes. I thought he had a much better dynamic with Downey Jr. Mickey Rourke is a fine throwaway villain and at least his scenes aren’t boring, but he does not have nearly enough to do. Now I want to discuss my favorite part of this movie, Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer. I love this character. Easily, my favorite villain of the Iron Man films, Rockwell is clearly having a blast hamming it up and sometimes literally dancing around. 

    Now, just to make things easier, I’m gonna bullet point my five favorite parts of this movie and my five least favorites.

Favorite

1. Tony getting some time of reconciliation with his father

2. The courthouse sequence

3. The Grand Prix action sequence

4. Hammer arming War Machine

5. The dynamic between Rhodes and Tony

Least Favorite

1. Underuse of Mickey Rourke 

2. The lead up to the Grand Prix action scene

3. Forced Avengers Setup

4. Using Tony dying from poisoning instead of alcoholism 

5. Could’ve used one more action scene

    Overall, though, I really had a total blast with this movie, even the weaker parts. It’s not an amazing film, but I got invested and smiling from start to finish. So guys thanks for reading id love to hear your thoughts about Iron Man 2 in the comments below. See you all next time on Flashback.