4 stars: Iron Man 2 takes off at a thounsand miles per hour and doesn't slow down.....

When "Iron Man" was released  in the early summer of 2008 it took the box-office and critics for a ride they would soon never forget, its huge critical and commercial success  and Robert Downey Jr.'s natural charm and appeal as the hero Tony Stark  landed this  larger than life comic book adaptation amongst the ranks  of greats such as Tim Burton's "Batman" and "Batman Returns", Christopher Nolan's "Batman reboot "Batman Begins" and the number 2 greatest Batman film of all time, "The Dark Knight",   "Richard Donner's "Superman" and "Superman II" and many other great comic book films. "Iron Man" also  brought back to life the fledgling career of Robert Downey Jr. Shooting him straight to the top of superstar status after "Iron Man" finished it's run in theaters everyone had one question   on there minds, when is the sequel coming out? Moviegoers waited anxiously to hear any news at all of a sequel to Jon Favreau's smash hit film. A few months after the closing of “Iron Man"   news surfaced that the sequel would be releasing some time in the early summer of 2010 People all around the world  waited with anticipation for this  sequel. And when the time came “Iron Man 2" flew into theaters and took the box-office by storm  proving that the iron avenger still has what it takes to be cinematic gold and proved that  once and for all that RDJ is Iron Man.

Jon Favreau's  high flying, action packed sequel to the smash hit  not only improves on the story of Tony Stark/Iron Man  he sends  the film  soaring to new heights with bigger action sequences, a bigger cast  and even more jokes just to add some  comedic flare to it. But the film is not all action and comedy  there are some very serious moments where Tony must choose  which path  to take the path that leads him right back to where he was before he became Iron Man or the other path that leads him where he wanted to go after he created the Iron man suit. Jon Favreau improves on the characters and expands the story by introducing a few new characters namely Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the weasel Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) and Natasha Romanoff AKA The Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). But just because it has more big name stars  doesn't mean this  sequel is a step backwards  for the franchise, in fact "Iron Man 2" is a massive step forward for  not just the franchise but the whole cast   there better than ever before and  most noticeably  Mickey Rourke has never been so good at being so bad. "Iron Man 2" may be looked done on as being weak on story and heavy on action  and also  extremely inferior to the original,  when it reality this film is  right up there with the original. There both of the same brew “Iron Man" was phenomenal  but "Iron Man 2" is outstanding  hell  my dad and I  would have given the film a standing ovation if there were no other  people around. "Iron Man 2" is the beginning of one of the biggest summers films have had since 2008.

I liked the fun nature of this film,  I liked how laid back this film seemed in some parts and how in others it was very serious which saves this picture from being an action comedy  which in some scenes you can seen it leaning towards and in others it takes on the same tone from the first film. What Favreau was trying to do was make the sequel more fun he already proved himself thoroughly with "Iron Man"   so with "Iron Man 2" he just wanted to make it bigger and better than before  and he succeeded. I loved this film more than I thought I would. You see I figured this would be a standard  sequel  and would not even come close to measuring up to the original  but, by either luck or a miracle  Favreau is able  to make "Iron Man 2" just as good if not a little better than the  first.

Robert Downey Jr. proved to me in "Chaplin" he had what it took to be great but it was "Iron Man" that won me over with his quirky and eccentric performance as the billionaire industrialist/superhero. RDJ brings the style and charm to the larger than life comic book adaptation that pits Tony Stark against everyone Pepper, the government, a crazy Russian, his best friend. It seems everyone wants the Iron Man either suit or out to kill him. RDJ makes it seem like none of these problems apply to him as he easily breezes through the role as if he has done it a thousand times before. RDJ may be more out of control in this film that the first but he still has   the unshakable ability to make you laugh and entertain you at the same time. He does not fail to deliver and most of all he does not fail the audience at giving them the performance they want and the hero they always have had a soft spot for. The rest of the cast including Don Cheadle, Clark Gregg, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Gweneth Paltrow,  Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke and Jon Favreau with Paul Bettany as the voice of Jarvis all turn in fantastic supporting in a film that shows you that a sequel can be just as good as the original, maybe even a little better.

"Iron Man 2" may not impress all fans of the famed hero or the film, “Iron Man 2" is nothing short of pure cinematic brilliance a comic book film, a science fiction thriller  and an action comedy all blended perfectly into  one to create a movie going experience  that is sure to blow you out of your seat. It's one of the best sequels I have ever seen, it  lives up to the first film and then with it's witty dialogue, fast pace, high octane action and hilarious  jokes  "Iron Man 2" proves to be one of the years    most entertaining films.