It Wasn't going to Top the Original, few Sequels Have, but is an expected Fun Film although it does Suffer from the "More is Better" Delusion. The Intimacy and Intense Personality of the First Film has Evaporated somewhat but there remains enough remnants to Satisfy.

Robert Downey Jr. is once again a Force on Screen and is aided by Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell delivering Interesting Characters. Actually the only "Name" Actor the Sequel should have Avoided is Garry Shandling as a Neo-Con Senator. It's a Distraction and would have worked Better with an Unknown. Don Cheadle replacing Terrence Howard is OK.

Many other "Faces" show up Again, Like Nick Fury, Black Widow, and Pepper Potts to add to the Adventure. Tony's Father is an Important Backstory Role. However, the Movie is Undeniably Overstuffed with Characters, Plot, and Busy, Busy, Action.

Overall, it is a Solid Sequel. Nothing Special, Just a continuation of Spectacle and Comic-Book reflection to Satisfy the simplistic Fanboy expectations and Popcorn Audiences Throughout the Universe.

Churning Out these things has become Corporate and the Soul of the Source Material isn't Gone as much as it is Glossed and has acquired an Obesity of Obsessive Compulsive Countenance.