We’re only three movies into this MCU rewatch, and it’s already time for the second Iron Man film. Marvel was developing a clearer direction for where they wanted to take the MCU in Phase One. Nick Fury mentioned The Avengers Initiative during the first movie, but it wasn’t the focus. This time, the main plot sometimes feels secondary to the studio’s larger plans.
An interesting aspect of this story that I missed during my original viewings was how it fits within the franchise’s timeline. The events of The Incredible Hulk are happening at the same time as this film. In fact, the action and Thor’s arrival in New Mexico all occur during one week! The connections to Thor are more blatant with Agent Coulson going to New Mexico and setting up the post-credits scene. It’s a cool way to bring everyone together in The Avengers fresh off their own battles with different villains.
I don’t want to stray too much from the matter at hand, though. The action picks up immediately following Tony’s big reveal of “I am Iron Man” at the end of the first movie. His arrogant side remains in full force, but a lot serves as bluster to mask the sad truth: the technology inside Tony is poisoning him. That fails to fully excuse his behavior to Pepper Potts and others here, but it builds the context for it. Tony is falling apart in every way possible.
Eye of the Tiger
The opening montage reveals Mickey Rourke’s Ivan Vanko building his destructive weapons. Following the death of his father (and a unintentionally funny yell at the sky), Vanko blames the Starks for their plight. Meanwhile, Tony revels in his fame and loses sight of the prize. Vanko watches from the shadows and waits to make his move.
This opening montage has so many connections to the “Eye of the Tiger” sequence at the start of Rocky 3. Vanko is basically Clubber Lang training with a laser focus while Stark’s Rocky gets soft. Following the title card, Iron Man arrives at the Stark Expo with dancing girls and the American flag. While that relates more to Apollo Creed and Rocky IV, there are definite connections! We even see Stark in a boxing ring sparring with Happy Hogan a bit later. These can’t all just be coincidences.
At the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Stark is showing off and acting like a star. He also humiliates Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), which leads directly to the film’s main conflict. This moment drives Hammer to break Vanko out of prison and gain an edge over his rival. But I’m getting ahead of myself here. As a fan of the 1964 World’s Fair and EPCOT Center, I have to spend time on the glorious Stark Expo.
The Power of Technology!
The highlight for a fan of Disney history is definitely the Stark Expo, which contains numerous connections to the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. After Tony’s bombastic entrance, a clip of his father Howard Stark (John Slattery) includes the statement “everything is achievable through technology”. This message was a key part of that event and the World’s Fair model in general. We even see Howard’s vision of a “city of the future” that has close connections to Walt Disney’s original ideas for EPCOT. Jon Favreau and Writer Justin Theroux definitely watched the EPCOT film and studied the ’64 World’s Fair when creating this film.
The modern Stark Expo is a year-long event showcasing the latest technology, and there are even more connections to the 1974 version. I love the scene with Tony watching a film of Howard shooting the Expo message. Howard is drinking between takes and struggling with his lines, and we even see Tony in the background as a kid. When Howard addresses the adult Tony directly from the grave, it brings chills and sets his recovery in motion. This moment also links perfectly to the emotional scene between the pair in Avengers: Endgame.
Favreau appeared in the Ryan Ritchey documentary After the Fair, and it’s clear from his comments this wasn’t just a clever way to present the story. He even brought in the legendary Richard Sherman to write the song “Make Way for Tomorrow Today”. That catchy tune feels wonderfully similar to “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” from Progressland at the ’64 World’s Fair. These touches promise an interesting story with connections to the past and a cool set-up for the future. Unfortunately, the end result is something quite different.
Competing Goals
It’s common for superhero sequels to expand the world and ensure that everything feels bigger. This choice makes sense, but we still need an efficient story that makes sense. There’s a risk of splitting our attention in too many directions, and that happens in Iron Man 2. Vanko’s back story and vendetta could fill an entire film, but that’s just one of many plot threads. Rourke spends the middle act in Hammer’s shop building drones. The Monaco opening presents Vanko’s Whiplash as a worthy adversary to Stark’s Iron Man. They fight again in the end, but it lacks the same tension.
I have mixed feelings about what Rockwell is doing as Hammer. He’s way over the top and such a contrast with Jeff Bridges’ Obediah Stane. Hammer is trying to be Stark from the start of the original Iron Man, but without the skills. He’s just an opportunist trying to stay in the game that mostly appears for comic relief. I want my Marvel villains to have some fun, but seeing him go “full Rockwell” might be a step too far. The scenes at Hammer’s factory are also strangely boring, even with his big performance.
The third piece of the story is the focus on S.H.I.E.L.D., which is more of a set-up for The Avengers and other MCU films. I don’t have a problem with connecting the movies, and the scenes with Samuel L. Jackson inject a positive jolt. It’s also refreshing to see the Black Widow we know appear following her revelation. Fury, Romanoff, and Coulson are great, but they also reinforce the idea that the main plot here barely matters. I was relieved to see them because the rest wasn’t really clicking.
Tony’s Downward Spiral
A casualty of the packed story is an effective trajectory for Tony, who seems arrogant and then goes off the rails at his birthday party. An alternative opening shows him puking in a toilet before landing at the Stark Expo, and that moment would dramatically change the tone. It feels a bit hollow with the dancing girls and bombastic start, but the movie also seems to enjoy the spectacle. We also don’t see enough of Tony’s relationship with Pepper Potts; their ultimate kiss doesn’t feel earned because he treats her poorly. When Tony meets “Natalie Rushman”, he says “I want one” and leers at her in a cringe-inducing fashion. You can explain this as part of Tony’s downward trajectory, but it seems especially cruel to Pepper.
The birthday party scene is hilarious but also a total mess. Iron Man spinning records is such a funny image that I can’t think seriously about his problems. His fight with Rhodes (who finally dons a suit!) while Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” and even “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock is so weird! They’re destroying everything in Tony’s house, and it’s impossible to take seriously. The fight also goes on for such a long time and gets old quickly. I want Marvel films to take chances, and having Tony sitting in the giant Randy’s Donuts sign in his suit is a creative choice. There just isn’t enough this time to make me care for Tony’s plight.
There’s also more unfortunate sexism in the party with the reactions from the women to Tony’s shenanigans. This sequence is the low point of the three MCU films that I’ve watched so far. A deleted scene of Tony hitting on “Natalie” at the party doesn’t help either. When he ultimately starts to regain control and returns for the final battle, it’s a relief because the spiral wasn’t that interesting. The S.H.I.E.L.D. scenes and other subplots didn’t give Tony’s issues enough time to make sense, so they feel rushed and mostly just odd instead of engaging.
Building for The Avengers
Despite its story issues, Iron Man 2 remains an important stepping stone to The Avengers. The S.H.I.E.L.D. material with Nick Fury and Black Widow (plus Coulson) add more pieces. We also see the recasting of Rhodes with Don Cheadle replacing Terrance Howard. I enjoyed how lost the military guy felt in the first film, but the change makes sense. Various stories have appeared about Howard’s performance and contract, so i won’t speculate here. Regardless of the reasons, Cheadle has a warm presence and good chemistry with Robert Downey Jr.
Scarlett Johansson also brings quiet confidence to Black Widow that only increases in future movies. I don’t love the way the camera (and Stark) view her in early scenes, but that improves when she takes charge. Samuel Jackson also gets more room to build Fury’s persona, which is always welcome. Clark Gregg has now played Coulson for years on TV, but his short appearances were always welcome in these films.
The end result of both the issues and the positives is a strange part of the MCU. Iron Man 2 draws a wide range of reactions from fans, and I totally get it. So much also depends on how invested you are in the Stark character. I’m ready for him to take a back seat now while other heroes get the attention in the next two movies. We’ve gotten to know Tony Stark, and his story will be important throughout the MCU. First of all, however, we need to catch up with the God of Thunder.
Visiting the Stark Expo
During my article on Iron Man, I wrote about the Iron Man Experience attraction in Hong Kong Disneyland. It fits better here since the queue takes you inside the Stark Expo. I haven’t visited that park, but I’m impressed by what I’ve seen of this area. There are suits from the movie, other iconic props, and a model of a futuristic city. The Hall of Mobility room feels like something you’d see at a tech expo and connects nicely to the World’s Fair model. It also effectively sets the stage for the main attraction.
If you’re looking for a solid ride video to check out the queue and attraction, this clip from Attractions Magazine is a good choice. I love the futuristic vibe of the background music, which reminds me of Paul Leonard-Morgan’s score for the current version of Test Track. The set-up is such a key part of the attraction in this case. It’s hard to truly gauge how good the Star Tours technology works here from online videos, but I’d love to have a chance to ride it. Placing the Stark Expo in Tomorrowland feels like the right way to incorporate Marvel into the parks.
Favorites
This process was trickier than with the first Iron Man, which had a more streamlined plot. There are a wide range of threads here, and some work much better than others. Just missing the cut was the initial fight between Iron Man and Whiplash at the Monaco racetrack. There’s a reason it was the featured scene in the original trailer.
- Scene: Tony watches the video of Howard Stark explaining the 1974 Stark Expo and giving the clues to his dire predicament.
- Character: Tony Stark (though not as one-sided as in Iron Man)
- Shot: A large group of drones land and surround Iron Man and War Machine in the Japanese Garden
- Action Scene: Black Widow finally reveals her skills and battles a legion of henchmen at Hammer Industries.
- Surprise: The casual sexism and general treatment of the women in this movie was worse than expected.
Rankings
These section keeps getting larger thanks to a bunch of new characters joining the MCU during Iron Man 2. Some of the returning players, especially Pepper Potts, just aren’t as interesting this time. The villains hold their own, despite feeling underused. I’m looking forward to continuing to expand these rankings in the future.
The Movies
1. Iron Man
2. The Incredible Hulk
3. Iron Man 2
Lead Characters
1. Tony Stark/Iron Man
2. Bruce Banner/The Hulk
Villains
1. General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (The Incredible Hulk)
2. Ivan Vanko (Iron Man 2)
3. Obediah Stane (Iron Man)
4. Justin Hammer (Iron Man 2)
5. Emil Blonsky/The Abomination (The Incredible Hulk)
Key Supporting Characters (Not Villains)
1. Nick Fury (Iron Man 2)
2. Natasha Romanoff (Iron Man 2)
3. Pepper Potts (Iron Man, Iron Man 2)
4. Agent Coulson (Iron Man, Iron Man 2)
5. Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Iron Man, Iron Man 2)
6. Betty Ross (The Incredible Hulk)
Stan Lee Appearances
1. Playing Larry King (Iron Man 2)
2. Wearing a bathrobe as “Heff” at a party (Iron Man)
3. Drinking contaminated soda (The Incredible Hulk)
Post-Credit Scenes
1. Nick Fury introduces himself and The Avengers Initiative (Iron Man)
2. Coulson arrives in New Mexico for the discovery of Thor’s hammer (Iron Man 2)
3. Tony Stark meets Ross in a bar and tells him about the team (The Incredible Hulk)
Next Time on Friday Night Movies
Next week, I’ll continue my look at Disney’s animated features with the surprising and complicated Fantasia from 1940. After that, I’ll return to the MCU and visit the realm of Asgard with Thor. The son of Odin may not be ready for our planet!
Connect with The Tomorrow Society
Join the mailing list at The Tomorrow Society and stay updated on the latest posts!
Support The Tomorrow Society with a small monthly contribution and become a Member of The Tomorrow Society on Patreon or through a one-time donation at the tip jar!
Follow The Tomorrow Society on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest!
Related Articles: Iron Man 2
The Incredible Hulk (MCU Rewatch #2)
Introducing the Friday Night Movies!
This post contains affiliate links. Making any purchase through those links supports this site. See full disclosure.
Leave a Reply