Iron Man 2 (2010)

“Iron Man 2” is not as good as the 2008 installment that made one of my favorite childhood superheroes -- a second-tier Marvel character -- a household name across America and put Robert Downey Jr. back on top of the “A” list. Let’s face it, sequels always toss in innumerable side characters to expand the plot, rarely cover new ground and, generally, feel like an after party. This falls into the same traps: The combination of Mickey Rourke as psycho-villain Whiplash and Sam Rockwell as evil industrialist Justin Hammer are potent, but not nearly as grounded or menacing as Jeff Bridges’ lone bad guy in film one. Bridges rules. Also, the story is ... smoke.

Here’s the gist: Self-appointed superhero Tony Stark (Downey) as Iron Man has pushed the world toward peace, he’s adored in America and overseas, has women falling at his feet, and … has an out-of-control ego bigger than the BP oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. He’s also drinking heavily, and watching his power-battery chest apparatus poison his blood. Oh, and the happy American military government? It wants the suit. Helmet to boots.

Then there’s Russian baddie Ivan Vanko/Whiplash, who nurses a long-held family drudge against Stark, plus Hammer, a snarky, nerdy Stark-wannabe who covets being the Pentagon’s pet supplier. Also on deck: federal agent Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson); the femme fatale named Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson); best pal Jim Rhodes (Don Cheadle, taking over for Terrance Howard) who becomes the second Iron Man; love interest Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow); and less-than-subtle hints to fellow superheroes Captain America and Thor. This is one packed house. Frat party style.

Despite thinking I want that damn name chart from "Shutter Island," to track all this, not much actually happens. This is a film of scenes, rather than plot or story. Thankfully there’s plenty of action, including a knock-out fight scene between our Iron Men, Black Widow wiping out a small army of tough guys, and then a closing battle in the old World Science Fair Park. That final fight stops just short of CGI overload. But only by inches. It doesn’t hit the high-note of the first film’s showdown. Is it the replacement of Howard by Cheadle? The lack of Bridges’ presence? I don’t know.

What pushes “Iron Man 2” into silver (not gold) territory is the dialogue. The patter and off-the-cuff remarks are so pure, they seem made up on the spot. Take this line from Rockwell describing a terrible self-built bomb: “If it were any smarter, it'd write a book. A book that would make 'Ulysses' look like it was written in crayon ... It's completely elegant, it's bafflingly beautiful, and it's capable of reducing the population of any standing structure to zero. I call it 'The Ex-Wife.'" If it’s too clever, then fine, I’ll take it.

Yes, the armor nor the story isn’t as strong this second visit, but I’m game for “Iron Man 3.” And "The Avengers"? Ohh, man. Can't wait. Hey, I'm a herd. I have standards. But I am a nerd. B