Iron Man 2 (2010)
★½ — Iron Man 2 (2010)
Iron Man 2 arrived in May 2010 as one of the most anticipated sequels of the early Marvel Cinematic Universe era, with director Jon Favreau returning after the original's surprise hit in 2008 (a film made on a relatively modest $140 million that grossed over $585 million worldwide and largely kick-started Marvel Studios as a standalone force). The sequel carried a reported $200 million budget, reflecting the studio's newly inflated confidence, and brought in Don Cheadle to replace Terrence Howard as James Rhodes, a recasting that drew considerable press attention at the time. Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell joined as antagonists, with Rourke's casting seen as something of a prestige addition given his career resurgence following The Wrestler (2008). Scarlett Johansson also appeared as Natasha Romanoff, her first outing in a role she would reprise across the MCU for over a decade.
What a slog. For a film that's supposed to build on the momentum of the first Iron Man, this feels like a painfully dull detour. It’s bloated, messy, and honestly... kind of pointless. Mickey Rourke’s villain is forgettable, the plot meanders all over the place, and it’s clearly more focused on setting up future MCU entries than telling a decent story in its own right. A real missed opportunity and easily one of the weakest Marvel outings.
Rating: ★½ | Year: 2010 | Watched: 2025-04-18
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Disney Plus
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Sky Store
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK
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