Big Screen Peter: Iron Man 2

 

Editor’s note: Peter Lewis has agreed to use whatever it is you call his writing style to provide some measure of analysis to those folks who still go to a theater to see a movie. Enjoy.

review by Peter Lewis

The object of the Hollywood blockbuster is to appeal to the most amount of people as possible. There is no true path toward that success per se, as many blockbusters are quite unexpected.

These are generally good movies that just happen to pick up some positive feedback and spread outward organically. On the other side of that coin are films that are purposely created to become a blockbuster. These generally possess large budgets and dynamic marketing campaigns associated with their release. Iron Man is obviously in this latter category.

The first installation of Iron Man seemed to perfect the elusive combination of wit and brawny action to which a Hollywood blockbuster aspires. The original recipe is still present. It’s still good guys v. bad guys, but while other protagonists fit into nice niches, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) bridged the defined conceptions of a “hero.” He is brain created brawn. And his spot in the canon of super heroes is representative of the changing landscape of America, one in which the digital creatives of the world are gaining more and more prominence as icons. But the Stark character goes one step beyond, he’s the rock star geek, a Steve Jobs or Guy Kawasaki cum superhero.

In Tony Stark, audiences had an effusive, brash young hot shot in which to see themselves. That was our man. He was independent, a natural contrarian who sought to change the way the world operated. Sure, he was a bit self-obsessed, even narcissistic, but who among us isn’t at least slightly bent towards that tendency?

These character traits were sent off the deep end for Iron Man 2. I didn’t think it was possible, but Tony Stark is even more self-obsessed, ever more the obstinate contrarian. Whereas in the first film, there seemed to be real basis in the motives, the second is fraught with the notion that there is no true aim beyond his own whimsy. That character vanity is what killed the film for me.

From the outset, all I could think was: Iron Man suit or not, this Senatorial rigamarole just seems downright ludicrous. Is there that much incompetency and indecision in the government? Well, I should take that back. There are certainly plenty of governmental screw ups to fill a much larger column than this.

Let’s try it again: While I could believe that the Congressional players were that stupid and shortsighted, I couldn’t quite get behind Stark’s obstinacy. I’m told that the creators envisioned him as an anti-governmental hero, perfect for the turbulent time period of his creation (1960s), but that rebel spirit seemed to be far from the film. He seemed more interested in the masturbatory effects of his power trips.

All in all, however, these minor character issues are but minuscule complaints as the second installation of Iron Man is an action success on a grand scale. Sure, in comparison with its precursor it can seem stale and forced. But while it certainly lacks the wit and purpose of the first, escaping the fun of the film is damned near impossible, even for a “snob” like myself.

In the end, that fun is what matters in the modern blockbuster. These films are by no means catered to the art house crowd and shouldn’t be judged in that fashion either. So while there are no shortage of complaints about the film, it is mainly a judgment of comparison upon the movie’s nearly pitch-perfect precursor for this installation is a quite enjoyable effort.

• Iron Man 2 is playing at the Carmike 14 and the Malco Cinema 12 in Fort Smith, and the Malco Van Buren Cinema. Link here for time and ticket info.

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