There's plenty going on in returning director Jon Favreau's sequel to the smash-hit original, though it does feel like rather overfamiliar territory. Departing from the character's Marvel comic storylines, screenwriter Justin Theroux has Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr, good as ever) struggling with superhero fame, shattered relationships, governmental pressure and a debilitating form of blood poisoning. Meanwhile, Russian inventor Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) creates his own deadly suit and weapons manufacturer Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) provides him with the resources to smash Stark's vision of privatised world peace. It may lack the fresh irreverence and excitement of the first adventure, but there are noteworthy set pieces. Vanko makes a dramatic appearance at the Monaco Grand Prix and the finale sees a spectacular face-off at Stark Expo, where a chromium-suited James Rhodes (Don Cheadle taking over from Terrence Howard) joins in the deluxe CGI mayhem.

With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark faces pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, with Pepper Potts and James 'Rhodey' Rhodes at his side, must forge new alliances – and confront powerful enemies.