Downey keeps action-packed 'Iron Man 2' light and fun

"Iron Man 2" takes off with a sputter, flies aimlessly around for a while, then finally kicks the blasters into overdrive during the last act to deliver a comic book adventure worthy of its well-made 2008 original.

Jon Favreau's sequel neither eclipses nor equals his fresh, clever Marvel superhero origin tale, but it still packs loads of entertaining fun sprinkled with witty dialogue, spectacular effects and physical stunts so amazing they boggle the eyes - especially when executed by Scarlett Johansson swaddled in a skintight ninja suit.

Robert Downey Jr.'s irreverent, Peter Pan-like portrayal of billionaire industrialist Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) continues to be the movie's strongest asset, although Favreau's light and nimble direction keeps the story's piled-on complications from sinking under their own globby weight.

Stark continues to have heart problems, and not only because E.T.'s glowing ticker in his chest is slowly dying, He also possesses unresolved feelings for Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow, back with more red hair) roiling beneath his armored facade.

In addition, poor Tony suffers from estranged daddy issues with his dead father, Howard Stark (John Slattery, looking as if he just stepped off the set of "Mad Men").

Then there's the strained friendship between Stark and Lt. Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Don Cheadle, an improvement over original actor Terrence Howard). Stark doesn't appreciate how his increasingly flaky behavior jeopardizes Rhodes' career.

That's nothing compared to the simmering family feud dating back to when Daddy Stark threw his Russian partner to the Soviet wolves, thereby causing his genius son Ivan to grow up to become Mickey Rourke, a perfect supervillain with a chip on his shoulder and tattoos all over his scary, steroidal body.

Ivan's insane plan to kill Tony Stark and destroy his Disney World-like Expo center becomes the driving plot to "Iron Man 2." Ivan finds a formidable partner against Iron Man in Stark's sleazy rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell).

Favreau (who also plays Stark's valet/guard Happy Hogan) keeps these numerous narrative plates spinning, but he can't stop the 124 minutes of his sequel from feeling slightly bloated.

Samuel L. Jackson brings his patented brand of fierce intensity to Nick Fury, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (created by Marvel Comics during the heyday of James Bond).

Comedian Garry Shandling is a hoot as a conservative Pennsylvania senator who publicly demands that Stark donate his Iron Man weaponry to the U.S. military. (Stark says no.)

Johansson's legal secretary Natalie Rushman is a cover for S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Natasha Romanoff. She's known as Black Widow in the comic books, and her highly athletic dispatching of baddies is easily a highlight of this sequel. And she speaks Latin.

Marvel fans should watch for a throwaway gag involving Captain America's patriotic Frisbee, and note how cannily Justin Theroux's screenplay plants seeds for the future formation of the Avengers superhero task force.

Oops. I almost forgot.

Stick around for the teaser/kicker after the lengthy credits.

Marvel comic geeks will be giddy with delight at the object glimpsed just before the screen goes blank.

If you don't recognize it, well, that's why it's a good to take a Marvel comic geek pal to see "Iron Man 2" with you.

"Iron Man 2"Rating: #9733; #9733; #9733;Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam RockwellDirected by: Jon FavreauOther: A Paramount Pictures release. Rated PG-13 for language and violence. 124 minutesFalse20001125Robert Downey Jr. returns as wealthy industrialist Tony Stark in "Iron Man 2." False