Part of the allure of Iron Man was its lack of traditional star power. Robert Downey Jr. was all but forgotten, Jon Favereau was the “that guy” from 90s movies and the director of “Elf.” Jeff Bridges had some clout, but nothing memorable since Seabiscuit and far from the days when he could be on a marquee. Gwyneth Paltrow had the most name, but was off the radar the last few years.
That’s changing with the sequel. Terrence Howard has already been replaced by Don Cheadle. On top of that, the cast is now top heavy with Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke. Sam Rockwelll has also been added
Speaking of top heavy, Johansson is playing Black Widow, a future Avenger and SHIELD member. Rourke plays Whiplash, an Iron Man villain.
You surprise Hollywood with $300 million, you are sure to attract the A-list (I would say A-list talent, but that would be doubly oxymoronic). But is there enough room on screen? Remember the Batman and Robin formula of failure and the trappings of Spider-Man 3. Don’t forget what got you that success in the first place.
That credit goes to the charisma of Robert Downey Jr. He was on screen nearly the entire film. Sure, Johansson will look great filling out black spandex, but she’s largely underwhelmed since her ascension. Her best performance dates back 10 years to “Horse Whisperer” when was a neophyte pre-teen. She’s followed the Natalie Portman model of giving her best performance before puberty, then somehow (Ed: no, somehoe wasn’t intentional, Eric) maintaining a career while never equaling it.
Rourke’s comeback is based on a role custom made for him. Adapting to a comic role is quite complicated.
The casting had much to do with why the original worked. Bridges, Downey, Paltrow and Howard were vastly understated in their approach. The movie had a very open, humble connection between its characters. There was a breezy chemistry between all of the actors. That approach doesn’t seem to mesh with the new casting.
Granted, I’ll still be in line. Downey is the best actor working right now. But there is only so much story to go around.
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Batman and Robin? That movie was just plain and simple crap (I’m being generous). I’d say it began with the multiple villains of Batman Returns and then Batman Forever. Fortunately, Dark Knight avoided the problem, albeit barely (***SPOILER ALERT for anyone who has actually not seen the #1 movie of last year ***) by not allowing the Harvey Dent character to develop too much into Two Face.
Similar theory applies, though, and while Bridges played a semi-underwhelming villain, Iron Man still kicked major ass for everything you mentioned about Downey Jr., as well as Favreau being a damn good choice as director.
JohnFN, I’m guessing the “…somehoe maintaining a career…” was a typo … right? Considering the picture you chose, I’m genuinely curious and leaning towards “no.”
Mickey will do just fine. That ugly mug of his will be awesome to see and he is equal in talent to Downey.
“I’m guessing the “…somehoe maintaining a career…” was a typo … right? ”
Please no.
It is now how I will always think of Scarlett J.
Surely, the casting of Johansson will enliven the fan-boy discussion. I googled the character “Black Widow” and discovered that originally she was a member of the KGB but after the fall of the USSR she was “re-imagined” as a member of the new Russian secret police…er…intellegence service.
The Russians have always been good at the honey trap ploy, so Scarlett may be a good choice for that.
After she visited the troops in Iraq, I took a vow not to say anything bad about her, so you won’t hear me pre-judge her performance. At the very least she’s easy on the eyes.
I look forward to IronMan II.
Eh, I used to like her, until she hit the tabloids with a little too much frequency. Still gorgeous in that old-time-y movie way.
(I meant me, not her)
(I meant both of us)
I was hoping that the Mandarin was in the next one, and that they’d get Chow Yun-Fat to play him.
I think it’s great to see more stars lining up. It makes me feel good about sequels when usually I just think they are doomed without a good cast!
well, if SJ does not support those puppies she has-they are going to be past her bellybutton by the time she is 35.
That’s all I’m gonna say about her.
If God gives you a gift-you better damn well take care of em!
How does one support their puppies? Chin ups? Maybe a good buffing?
A bra that fits, John! That is how one supports her girls.
i swear, if not for the scarring, Mickey Roarke would look exactly like Kiefer Sutherland right now