It’s helpful to think of this movie as two separate films. It might seem odd, but it's true. On one level, you have a superhero film centered on Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) performing typical comic book actions; it’s an acceptable action movie worth watching. However, there's also a drama with comedic elements—a genre that’s hard to define—focused on the characters and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) living his billionaire-playboy lifestyle. This part of the film is fantastic. The writing and acting are both superb, which really distinguishes _Iron Man 2_ from other superhero movies. This kind of character exploration was present in the first movie, but here it’s much more distinct, and strangely, that's a benefit. When franchises develop, scheduling conflicts are inevitable; it’s an unfortunate reality of filmmaking, especially when deadlines loom and actors can't return to their roles. _Iron Man 2_ faced this issue when Lt. Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes (originally played by Terrance Howard) was replaced by Don Cheadle. I believe Howard was a better fit for the part because he more closely resembles Rhodey from the comics. However, they handled the change in a clever and straightforward way: his first lines are simply, “Look, it's me, I’m here, deal with it. Let's move on. Drop it.” It’s quite classy. Mickey Rourke (_Get Carter, Sin City, The Wrestler, Man on Fire, The Expendables_) delivers a convincing portrayal of the villainous Russian, Ivan Vanko, although Whiplash himself is somewhat lacking as a bad guy. Sam Rockwell (_The Green Mile, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Frost/Nixon, Moon, Conviction_) plays Justin Hammer, Stark’s corporate rival. Scarlett Johansen (_Eight Legged Freaks, The Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Island, The Prestige, The Spirit_) is another welcome addition to the cast as Natalie Rushman A.K.A Natasha Romanoff A.K.A Black Widow. Samuel L. Jackson (_Jurassic Park, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, The Starwars Prequel Trilogy, Shaft, S.W.A.T, Kill Bill Volume 2, Snakes on a Plane, 1408, The Spirit, Inglourious Basterds_) as S.H.I.E.L.D Director Nick Fury completes the new cast members—all good additions. The Hammerdrones were an attempt to improve upon the disappointing boss battle from the first film; once again, it didn't entirely work out. Again, it’s the character interactions that make the movie worthwhile. The special effects also helped considerably; they were impressive. There are a few weaknesses in the script, moments when the suspension of disbelief is stretched too far. For example, the line “Congratulations sir, you have created a new element” feels a bit awkward. If I had to choose, I’d probably say that _Iron Man_ is the stronger film overall, but _Iron Man 2_ has greater re-watch value—something I appreciate greatly. I'm eagerly awaiting the next Marvel movie, _Thor_. 63%

Source on TMDB