It's not the armor that makes the hero, but the man inside.

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Michey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson, Paul Bettany (voice)

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"I told you I don't want to join your super-secret boy band." – Tony Stark regarding the Avengers Initiative

Why watch this? It's a good sequel, and Downey Jr. keeps the cocky charm going.

Plot Summary: Following the public revelation of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark faces pressure from the government to hand over his advanced technology. Simultaneously, he grapples with declining health due to the power source sustaining his life. He must also contend with a new enemy, Ivan Vanko, a vengeful Russian scientist with ties to his father's past, who seeks to destroy Stark and his legacy.

Dad's Preview: This film again builds on its ties into the MCU as we learn the origin of War Machine, aka Air Force officer James "Rhodey" Rhodes. We also meet Natasha Romanoff, who is secretly the ninja assassin Black Widow. The action is plentiful, the special effects are incredible, yet the over-stuffed film really lacks a steady direction and the Russian villain is just not that interesting.  

Marvel Studios; Paramount Pictures