Iron Man 2: A Ridiculous Review

Okay, so I just got back from Iron Man 2 with Shawn. As I stated on the Twitters, the early reviews were ranging from, “What a terrific film, balanced by action and intense character work,” to, “it’s like Hitler came to life and started raping babies.” I will seriously never understand the entitlement aspect to fanboys, and the concept that if a film isn’t exactly their vision, they have been betrayed and let down and I’m never reading comics again and I’m taking my ball and going home. I mean, seriously? Daredevil was a mediocre film but I got through it somehow.

Anyway, in your Kev’s humble opinion, Iron Man 2 is not only a wonderful film, it’s the best of the year. It’s got a few new characters, but it never feels overcrowded. We get deeper into Tony Stark’s neuroses, and his way of using his image as a shield to hide behind. Somehow, Gwyneth Paltrow is appealing, and Scarlet Johanssen kicks a bunch of ass, and there’s a lot more of John Favreu on the screen. This is never bad, though I would have preferred shirtlessness. Plus, Mickey Rourke is a believable bad guy, and the action sequences are delightfully actiony, and there’s exposition but it never goes on forever, and Samuel L. Jackson is Nick Furying just enough, and it’s all awesome. Just awesome!

But that’s not the main reason I loved this movie. No, I loved this movie because it’s so Disney I had like seven nerdgasms in my seat. And not obvious Disney. Not anything that will distract anyone who hates or doesn’t know Disney. But for Disnerds, you guys, this is a treasure trove. There’s a whole thing about the Stark Expo ’74, which is a near-exact replica of Disney’s pavilion at the New York World’s Fair in ’64. There’s a video showing Tony Stark’s Dad and he looks exactly like Walt Disney doing his promotional videos. And biggest of all? There’s a song associated with the expo that plays early in the movie and then again over the credits. I whispered to Shawn, “This is like a re-write of ‘A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,’ which was in Horizons and the Carousel of Progress.” Then the song credits rolled and I actually shouted in the theater. “SHAWN IT WAS WRITTEN BY RICHARD SHERMAN! WHO WROTE ‘A GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW’! AND ALSO ‘IT’S A SMALL WORLD’!”

He looked at me. “You know, I know who the Sherman Brothers are.”

Me, wide-eyed. “You do?!”

“Dude, I bought you that CD for Christmas!”

You know, I know a lot of people were crazy nervous when Disney bought Marvel, but if this is the direction? If they’re going to do things cleverly and interestingly without being obvious and stupid, I am on board. I am so excited about this movie. I want to see it again, right now! OMG and then there was a post-credits thing! SERIOUSLY STAY FOR AFTER THE CREDITS, especially you, Dave P. ESPECIALLY YOU!

OMG there was also a Spaceship Earth! YOU GUYS WAY TOO MUCH SQUEE!!!

Okay, better.

EPCOT!

Seriously, better now.