When you enjoy the novelty of a film so much, the sequel can be a hard sell---because where do you find more novelty? You can introduce more characters, like Scarlett Johansson as Natalie Rushman aka you know who. You can try making things bigger and badder, but that in itself is not novel. No, it is best to devise a new story line that comes out of nowhere and sets the viewer on his keister. Surprise plus great acting can win the day.

But "Iron Man 2" mostly employs the more-of-the-same strategy and disappoints. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is not so heroic and he doesn't go through a traditionally heroic story arc. Screens full of explosions and high-test action only entertain so much. One of its best scenes comes early, when Stark drives in the Monaco Grand Prix.

Another entertaining scene is when Stark testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee and is grilled by Senator Stern , played by Garry Shandling. It has something to say about senatorial showmanship, government overreach, and the smarmy types who are elected far too many times. And Stark stands his ground, even if he is a narcissistic sybarite.

IM2 is one of many sequels that fall short, but one always hopes that the magic of the original can be amplified to take us to another special place, as with "Terminator 2".