“Iron Man 2”

Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language.

“Iron Man” (the first film) was serendipitous.  It was bright, witty, funny, hip, clever, and very entertaining. “Iron Man 2” had a disadvantage because of the first film’s brilliance. How can a sequel measure up to such a pleasant surprise? While “Iron Man” was stunning, “Iron Man 2” was somewhat stunted.

First of all, our hero, billionaire Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), the guy who invented a rocket suit that made him invincible and a crime fighter, has, since the first film, grown the “big head.” He becomes a conceited, arrogant jerk. Oddly, the glowing headlight, inserted in the middle of his chest that keeps him alive, is also killing him — making his blood toxic. One would think that this might make him a tad humble. He trades withering insults with a smug and smarmy United States Senator Stern (played by Gary Shandling). However, neither character is sympathetic at this point in the film. Lt. Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle), Stark’s buddy, is just about the only one we care about. He is forced by Senator Stern to say ugly things about his pal, Stark.

Stark won’t turn over his super-hero suit to the U.S. Military. Arms manufacturer Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), an amoral, conniving, double-dealing, slime ball is the darling of Senator Stern. He actually just wants to control the suit — as to why, I am not 100 percent sure — but he is just one nasty dude and will work with the military or without the military to achieve his nefarious goal.

Meanwhile, a Russian guy, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), wants to do horrible, terrible things to Tony Stark. This Russian is an evil physicist who has been able to make a super-suit along the lines of Stark’s but with these really cool whips that are like lightning bolts. The film is basically Vanko vs. Stark, battle of the super-suits.

Mr. Rourke is an excellent bad guy. Just one glance at him and one is compelled to take a shower, get a manicure and pedicure, and take a belt sander to one’s person to remove all ill-advised tattoos.

One of the problems with “Iron Man 2” is that there are way too many characters. I don’t have enough column inches to write about Pepper Potts, Stark’s secretary and love interest (played by Gwyneth Paltrow), super-agent Natalie Rushman/Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), or the film’s director Jon Favreau playing Happy Hogan, Stark’s gofer/driver.

Another problem is that there is much to appreciate in this film if the viewer is a well-read Marvel comic book fan. If one is not so well-informed, much will be missed. It is like a series of inside jokes and eye-winks that will be lost on comic book illiterates in the audience. I am one of those but I was better off than my movie-going partner. We stayed to the very end to see the after-credits scene. I recognized the Hammer of Thor, while she wondered what was so special about a square, metal, mallet. It is all a set-up for the upcoming Marvel comic inspired film, “The Avengers.”

What makes “Iron Man 2” good was the stellar cast. All play their characters to the hilt with unabashed gusto and wicked abandon. I especially liked Sam Rockewell’s mutterings and a silly dance he did just before he made a presentation about his new-improves drone soldiers; such a dastardly dweeb that one really hungers for his come-uppance.

And the special effects strike me as the fireworks over Disney World. There are plenty of oohs and ahhs. Although “Iron Man 2” was a little disappointing, compared to the original, it tries very hard to measure up and not to come up lacking. One is compelled to forgive its short comings.

However, I may have been a little distracted by a two-year old tyke squealing and squirming behind me. I wanted to borrow one of Vanko’s lightning whips to motivate the parents to hire a babysitter next time.

“Iron Man 2” earns three and a half bow ties out of five.