MARVEL’S mechanical maverick returns to the big screen this week in the anticipated (though unimaginatively titled) sequel Iron Man 2.
Having revealed to the world he is global protector Iron Man, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr) unwittingly becomes the obsession of a rogue Russian scientist dedicated to destroying the enigmatic inventor.
But Soviet villains are not Stark’s only problem.
With his machine heart which powers the amazing Iron Man suit slowly killing him, the United States government demanding his ‘weapon', and industrial competitor Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) intent on bettering him, Stark’s limited future looks set to end woefully.
Can Iron Man face his many foes while managing to cheat death itself?
Difficult second album
When Jon Favreau brought the beloved comic character to the screen the first time around, solid pace, a clean visual style and Downey Jr’s loveable rogue persona made Iron Man the surprise hit of the summer.
Once again the accomplished director has whipped the lead out, but without the secure origins story faces the ‘difficult second album’ dilemma of high anticipation and expectation.
If you were a fan of the original, it fails to disappoint.
Same but more
The quick-witted comedy is intact while the ‘same but more’ sequel rule is strictly adhered to.
More villains and heroes, more exotic locations, more budget-busting action set-pieces and more gadgets keep the energy going throughout the 124 minute runtime.
Iron Man 2 could have benefited from a few more pulverising beat 'em up sequences involving the red and gold hero; but what it loses in OTT action is gains in solid story-telling as the various threads of the Marvel universe are slowly tied together.
Like all Favreau’s work, it is the characters who take the lead.
New faces
Downey and Gwyneth Paltrow (as Stark’s long suffering assistant Pepper Potts) return with their enjoyable banter, but the floor is opened to a new batch of faces.
Terrance Howard’s replacement by Don Cheadle as best friend James Rhodes - who makes his debut as fan-favourite War Machine - is warmly welcomed as he fits into the character more ably.
While Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell in the villain roles bring their usual strong turns to the screen
And the introduction of Scarlett Johansson adds a touch of sexy mystery to the movie, with well choreographed fight scenes a highlight.
Comic book lovers and fans of the original are sure to be satisfied with the latest instalment, but those uninitiated with Iron Man’s previous outing may be lost amidst the multiple narrative strands.
Nevertheless, Iron Man 2 still marks a solid second outing for the robust hero - but audiences should stay in seats until the very end for a post-credits taster of Marvel’s next hot property.
7/10 - Metal madness.