Iron Man 2 appears to persistently be on the backside every time I see a rating of Marvel films, together with CinemaBlend’s checklist. I simply don’t suppose that’s truthful. I lately rewatched the 2010 launch with my Disney+ subscription, and I actually don’t consider it will get sufficient respect. There are a bunch of the reason why, too.
Iron Man 2 is actually the primary time we, as an viewers, are launched to the MCU. It was the primary time we noticed two Avengers in the identical place, on the identical time. Whereas the villain, Whiplash (performed by Mickey Rourke), isn’t excellent, he is a superb comedian e book villain. The solid is nice, and there are some enjoyable cameos. Lastly, the film does every part I would like in a superhero film, together with issues the MCU has misplaced since. So, let’s get into why I feel the third MCU film shouldn’t be shunned like it’s.
Creating The Most Profitable Film Franchise Of All Time
The concept of the MCU and the Avengers clearly goes again all the way in which to the primary MCU film, Iron Man, when Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr) meets Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) within the first post-credits scene within the franchise. It actually wasn’t till the third film, Iron Man 2, that we acquired our first actual style of what was to return. Not solely will we get extra of the late, nice Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Nick Fury, however the first interplay between two future Avengers, Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, performed by Scarlett Johansson.
To make certain, James Rhodey, performed by Don Cheadle right here, was launched within the first Iron Man (then performed by Terrence Howard), however he wasn’t one of many unique Avengers within the first team-up film in 2012. Romanoff was, and so the seeds of the crew have been really born in that diner the place Tony meets along with her and Fury.
Not The Greatest Villain, However A Actually Enjoyable One
Whiplash is a extremely enjoyable villain, and it’s true that Mickey Rourke’s accent is slightly dicey, nevertheless it’s a improbable efficiency in any other case. Primarily based on the third comedian model of the villain, Ivan Vanko, Whiplash is considered one of Iron Man’s oldest foes and an incredible addition to the MCU. Iron Man and Whiplash first doing battle on the streets of Monaco in the course of the legendary Monaco Grand Prix is considered one of my favourite battle scenes within the franchise. The particular results maintain up nicely, and as a fan of System One, it’s a extremely enjoyable setting for the battle.
In fact, I can’t miss Vanko’s benefactor, Justin Hammer. He has additionally been a long-time rival of Tony Stark within the comics, and Sam Rockwell brings such a basic, snarky villain vibe to the character that I want we had seen extra of him in different MCU films. Who is aware of, possibly Rockwell might be a shock member of the Avengers: Doomsday solid, however I sadly doubt it.
Nice Solid With Some Enjoyable Cameos
Talking of casts, Iron Man 2 has an incredible one. Along with Johannson showing within the MCU for the primary time, alongside Downey, Jackson, Cheadle, and Gregg, we get Gwyneth Paltrow and Jon Favreau (who additionally directed the film), reprising their roles as Pepper Potts and Glad Hogan, respectively. Mad Males’s John Slattery performs Howard Stark, and the late Garry Shandling stars as a senator out to take down Tony. Paul Bettany returns because the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S., and Leslie Bibb returns as a reporter, this time interviewing Hammer within the film.
Then there are additionally the tremendous enjoyable cameos. Naturally Stan Lee will get his second, although he’s mistaken within the film for Larry King. Tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Larry Ellison pop in for fast photographs. Kate Mara performs a U.S. Marshal serving Tony a subpoena to look in entrance of the Senate, and the late DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) spins some bangers at Tony’s celebration. The MCU was rising shortly, and this solid displays that.
The Largest Motive Why Iron Man 2 Is Nice Is That It’s Human-Sized
Lastly, we come to why I actually like Iron Man 2 and never solely why I feel it’s underrated, however why I feel the MCU might be taught from it. I’ve written about this earlier than, however I feel the MCU has gotten too large and too uncontrolled. This movie seems quaint compared to what the franchise seems like at present, with aliens who’ve the facility to wipe out planets and galaxies, and countless timelines and universes. That labored very well via Avengers: Endgame because the franchise steadily grew, however since then, it’s simply continued to develop and develop.
The MCU ought to’ve taken it down a notch or 12 after Endgame. Bringing it again to a human scale (by superhero requirements) would have gone a great distance in the direction of rebuilding the franchise after the large success of Endgame. As an alternative, it’s simply gotten greater, each by way of plots and the sheer quantity of content material. Maintaining with the MCU typically feels extra like homework than leisure, however Iron Man 2 has every part that makes the early MCU nice and matches proper into that preliminary thought of making a universe one superhero at a time.
Iron Man 2 Isn’t The Greatest Film In The Canon, However It’s In The Prime Half
I’m not going to attempt to promote anybody on the concept that that is the perfect MCU film within the collection. It’s not even the perfect Iron Man film (that goes to the unique), nevertheless it doesn’t belong wherever close to the underside alongside Black Widow, Thor: The Darkish World, or Eternals. The latter is an particularly rocky entry, and it’s nowhere close to as enjoyable as any of the early films. Subsequent time you sit down and may’t determine which Marvel film to look at on Disney+, think about Iron Man 2, particularly for those who haven’t seen it shortly. And severely, let’s carry again Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer!