After a long wait and tons of publicity, Iron Man 2 finally opened at theatres this weekend, and I was in line Saturday night.  

 Robert Downey, Jr. as billionaire Tony Stark is, again, super-cool. Everyone now knows that Stark and Iron Man are one in the same, and his super powers are the reason the world is finally at peace.   Stark, however, has a problem, which he is keeping to himself. The super conductor that is implanted in his chest, keeping him alive, is failing. Without some new form of energy, Stark’s days are numbered. The stress is getting to him, and he’s freaking out, promoting his right-hand gal, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) to CEO of Stark Industries, and replacing her with Natalie (Scarlett Johansson). 

While he desperately attempts to find a new source of energy, Stark is being pressured to turn the Iron Man suit over to the government. Adding to his worries, his corporate rival, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) boasts that his attempts to replicate the suit are near success.   When rogue scientist Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) confronts Stark at the Grand Prix in Monaco with an Iron Man suit of his own, things get a little dicey. 

As Hammer and Vanko join forces to out-do Stark Industries in the defense game, the power struggle is on – on a super-hero size scale.   Despite a rather convoluted story line, Iron Man 2 rocks. The action scenes and the special effects are terrific. Rourke is well-cast as the evil and menacing Vanko. The old favorites, Downey, Jr. and Paltrow are as likable as ever, with the threat of romance nearly as captivating as the threat of world domination by evil powers.

Johansson is a gorgeous addition, and Rockwell is just slimy enough as wily Justin Hammer. Don Cheadle does a great job as Lt. Col. “Rhody” Rhodes, replacing Terrence Howard in the role.   I, frankly, preferred the original Iron Man, but Iron Man 2 is certainly an entertaining, edge-of-your-seat way to spend an evening. 

P.S. The sound track rocks, too.   

Gabby