Film File - Iron Man 2

We're barely into May and the first of the summer blockbusters is upon us already. In a summer where we are promised sequels galore in everything from 'Shrek' to 'Toy Story', this follow-up to 2008's 'Iron Man' original will set the standard for the many that will follow. After confessing his identity as Iron Man to the world, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) comes under fire from the United States government to hand over his powerful weapon - the Iron Man suit. As the Government attempts to create a duplicate suit with the assistance of Stark's rival, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), Stark's old friend Jim Rhodes (Don Cheadle) finds himself caught in the middle in the conflict. Meanwhile, a mysterious and dangerous foe emerges in the form of Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), who creates an alternate and powerful persona known as Whiplash in order to exact revenge on the Stark family, and unites with Hammer in an effort to destroy Iron Man. With the arrival of his shady new assistant Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson), and persistent recruitment attempts from SHIELD director Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson), Stark needs all the help he can get in order to overcome the obstacles. With Iron Man having brought Downey's career out of the doldrums after his brief spell in prison, teaming him up with Rourke in this sequel seems a piece of inspired casting - two has-been Hollywood heroes riding high once more. The first time Stark speaks to Vanko, he takes in the burly Russian's Third World dental work, assortment of prison tattoos and lank locks and comes to this conclusion: "You look like you have friends in low places." Vanko, portrayed with muttering menace, is a complete stranger to Stark - but one connected with the inventor's past. Displaying his method acting credentials, Rourke flew at his own expense to Moscow to research his role by spending time with prison guards and longtime prisoners and immersing himself in the dark culture of the gulag. Rourke, the only method actor in the cast, returned with requests that his character speak mostly Russian, have a pet bird and flash a lot of Eastern Province tatoos. His character, Vanko, is a combination of Iron Man's arch enemy, the Crimson Dynamo, whose armour can control electricity, and Whiplash, who possesses a specially-designed razor/acid whip inspired by the light sabres from Star Wars. In another piece of method acting immersion, Scarlett Johansson dyed her hair red in an effort to ensure she got the part of the Black Widow - apparently she was a huge Marvel Comics fan in her youth. To prepare for her role, she trained six months before the movie started principal photography and took inspiration for her character from the femme fatales Nina Ivanovna Yakushova of 1939's 'Ninotcha', and Anya Amasova of 1977's 'The Spy Who Loved Me'. This time around, the private demons of Tony Stark get more exposure, particularly his alcohol addiction, a storyline which runs close to Downey's own problems with drink and substance abuse a few years back. Writer Shane Black recommended that Stark's characterisation be inspired by J Robert Oppenheimer, the lead scientist who had worked on the atomic bomb during WWII but, after witnessing his creation's destructive potential, defamed himself as the 'Destroyer of Worlds' and sank into depression. Regardless of what you do this summer, there will be reminders of 'Iron Man 2' all around you. On Amazon, the film already has two of the top 10 products in the action figure category. The high-tech Iron Man Deluxe Helmet, with light-up eyes and three different battle modes, is at number eight. The film will see one of the largest merchandising roll-outs ever planned in everything from toys to videogames to DVDs, swimming togs and Shoot to Thrill T-shirts to tie in with the AC/DC soundtrack. This is solid entertainment with director Jon Favreau pumping up the volume and action at every turn. There's a little James Bond, a little Jason Bourne, and some great scripting bringing out the best in Downey and Rourke. A crowd-pleaser.