Iron Man 2 is overstuffed, pulling in superfluous directions. It introduces Black Widow (and expands on SHIELD), War Machine, two villains, Stark's degrading health, his father issues, and expands on his complicated relationship with Potts. Had these plotlines been in separate movies, they could've had proper development. Instead, nothing intertwines and the movie is messy. Furthermore, Stark's character doesn't arc. He solves problems, but doesn't grow. In fact, he finishes the movie by mocking his doubters (even though they were right about his technology being a public safety threat). Ultimately, Iron Man 2 only feigns drama around merchandising and action.

Technically, Iron Man 2 is a downgrade. Rock music is more sparse, imagery is less dramatic, editing is basic, sound lacks symbolism, and the tone is muddled. The first action sequence is appealing, but the climactic battle is uninspired. Meanwhile, the cast adds several big names, but there's less emotional range for them to explore. Previously, Downey was able to show vulnerabilities that are noticeably missing here. Overall, Iron Man 2 is more like a collection of parts than a cohesive whole. Its individual ideas are interesting, but it's too cluttered to connect. Iron Man 2 is fine entertainment, but it's also a missed opportunity.

Writing: 4/10 Direction: 5/10 Cinematography: 5/10 Acting: 7/10 Editing: 6/10 Sound: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack: 6/10 Production Design: 8/10 Casting: 10/10 Effects: 7/10

Overall Score: 6.5/10.