Gwyneth Paltrow aka Pepper Potts: the REAL unsung hero of the Iron Man Movies

[bullets]

I didn't like Gwyneth Paltrow until she starred in these movies. So far she has been great.

Also I don't understand how someone would view her as nagging about the company. They were trying to make it clear that she had kept things under control and was a suitable CEO while Tony was making mistakes.

[UnionJack]

Originally Posted by bullets

I didn't like Gwyneth Paltrow until she starred in these movies. So far she has been great.

Also I don't understand how someone would view her as nagging about the company. They were trying to make it clear that she had kept things under control and was a suitable CEO while Tony was making mistakes.

I've seen the film twice and I just can't grow to Pepper the 1st time around was with a group of mates and none of them liked her character and thought she was in it a little too much, and the 2nd time with family and at one point my sister turned to me and said "does she do anything else other then be moody and moan alot".

Yes Pepper is a smart business woman and all but she just seems a little ... I dunno dull.

I hope beyond hope Fav never sticks a bloody suit on her in IM3

[kedrell]

Originally Posted by UnionJack

I hope beyond hope Fav never sticks a bloody suit on her in IM3

While I'll disagree with most of what you said(I reallylove paltrow in these movies as well as the Pepper character) I willagree with you on this. I hate the Rescue idea in the comics. It just smacks of a "we're running out of ideas so let's try this" mentality. Pepper's not an ass kicker. She never has been nor should be. That's what we have the Bethany Cabe character for(BW doesn't count since she's pretty much moved on from just being an Iron Man mythos character and pretty much come into her own mythos).

[Doctor Jones]

Pepper in a suit.... I'll pass.

[SurfDUI]

Originally Posted by UnionJack

Yes Pepper is a smart business woman and all but she just seems a little ... I dunno dull.

Yes she's very dry, I imagine as a person also, I can only guess.
In the world of comics tho, personalites are stripped down, EVERYone can't be a 'card'. Then you'd have a whole universe of Alpha dogs...and 98% of superhero-ing is Alpha male-ish anyway. Her purpose pertaining to character and story is an anchor. I think she's a pretty hot anchor, dry sure, but I believable.

Originally Posted by danoyse

Agreed! And as a female who has to put up with so many female characters in these movies being relegated to either damsel-in-distress or eye candy for the fanboys, it's so nice to have a female character that is smart and sensible and can hold her own without being an actual superhero.

I don't have kids, but I teach sometimes, and the girls they like superhero stuff...not near like the boys, but I wonder sometimes, who they would draw too. Unless your an adult and looking for characters, there's not much out there. I'm glad you said that.

Originally Posted by RoboAmish

I found her scenes with Downey among the weakest in the film as it was at these times the lack of a decent script was most obvious, and they were allowed to partake in self-indulgent improvisation that, in an attempt to be funny, came accross as much too forced to me. It worked in the first film but they overdid it here.

...I can see some of that. Except one, the Tony/Pepper dynamic has this gorilla in the room that is Tony's exploits w/ all manner of gourgeous women. The film Pepper is an amalgam of Bami and Pepper, so you get the self assured Pepper, w/ the day to day business handling of Ms. Arbogast.

I thought the supposed tension between them was a lil much, not to the point where it was a big deal. but some of the impro was self-indulgent, but isn't most of it. And it wasn't ALL an attempt to be funny, like when you go back and forth w/ a hot chick from work, hell yea, some times it's sharp and funny and some innuendo, but times it's uncomfortable maybe. Definatly not as sharp as RDJ, but I didn't think it was forced. I liked it better here, cause the first time around she didn't have as much to do, and it was like 'Moonlighting' w/ Bruce Willis and the other chick.

Originally Posted by RoboAmish

Reminded me of a bad episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm with each talking over the other.

Since you have a 'Cantstandja' avatar even you know that there are no good or bad Curb episodes. Only Curb. Its the same story structure that resolve the same way since his work on Seinfield, formulaic like a Law and Order. You either Love it, which I do, or you find it lame, which alot of people do I guess. Sometimes Larry David's yarn and fillibustering is flat too, but that's no to say it's bad IMO. You either find that particular diatribe weak or strong. Itsall good. But there ALWAYS talking over each other.

[Dark Raven]

Originally Posted by kedrell

While I'll disagree with most of what you said(I reallylove paltrow in these movies as well as the Pepper character) I willagree with you on this. I hate the Rescue idea in the comics. It just smacks of a "we're running out of ideas so let's try this" mentality. Pepper's not an ass kicker. She never has been nor should be. That's what we have the Bethany Cabe character for(BW doesn't count since she's pretty much moved on from just being an Iron Man mythos character and pretty much come into her own mythos).

We ought to have Bethany Cabe in the Iron Man movies, and stick Pepper with Happy, as in the comics. I don't care if Bethany doesn't ultimately end up with Tony and Pepper divorces Happy, I just want to see Bethany feature in the movies. She should've been in IM2 since we had Justin Hammer, Rhodey, Whiplash, Monaco etc: most of the characters from the Demon in a bottle storyline.

[UnionJack]

Originally Posted by Night Raven

We ought to have Bethany Cabe in the Iron Man movies, and stick Pepper with Happy, as in the comics. I don't care if Bethany doesn't ultimately end up with Tony and Pepper divorces Happy, I just want to see Bethany feature in the movies. She should've been in IM2 since we had Justin Hammer, Rhodey, Whiplash, Monaco etc: most of the characters from the Demon in a bottle storyline.

Gwyneth says she doesn't want her Pepper to end up with Happy as "the fans won't believe it" like she would know either way, nor care who she ends up with.
I'd rather see Tony be single than carry on with a subplot of romance to break up the action scenes.

[Travesty]

Gwyneth Paltrow looked hotter in IM2 then she did in the first, even though that's hard to justify, cause she's a friggin knock out in both. I would punch a grandma in the face, for a chance with her: Truth!

[RoboAmish]

Originally Posted by SurfDUI

Since you have a 'Cantstandja' avatar even you know that there are no good or bad Curb episodes. Only Curb. Its the same story structure that resolve the same way since his work on Seinfield, formulaic like a Law and Order. You either Love it, which I do, or you find it lame, which alot of people do I guess. Sometimes Larry David's yarn and fillibustering is flat too, but that's no to say it's bad IMO. You either find that particular diatribe weak or strong. Itsall good. But there ALWAYS talking over each other.

heh heh, I believe Curb is possibly the funniest show in all of existence. I love improv when it works well and that is an example of excellent improv. Sometimes, RDJ/ GP reminded me of some of the earlier episodes where it was a bit more amateurish and they did tend to talk over each other a lot more, but mostly, the comparison was down to the fact that it reminded me of a Curb type conversation, except it didn't come off as well, came across as far too amateurish and indulgent. But hell, neither of them was Larry David so I can't hold that against them

[spider-neil]

miss potts was edging dangerously close to MJ/spider-man lana/smallville out and out annoying in this movie.

[S.A.A.D.]

Originally Posted by DACrowe

Hey ScarJo was hot in the movie, no question. But if she wasn't in the movie, nobody would have noticed something was missing (other than some ridiculous eye candy!). But her character, other than a slick fight scene, had nothing to contribute other than a teaser to The Avengers.

Without Pepper, this movie would have been unbearable in the middle. Which makes me wonder if one of the reasons IM1 is better is it is all about the chemistry between Downey, Paltrow and Bridges. None of this multi-layered-semi-SM3 mess going around.

But you're right.

Black Widow was important,she helped War Machine and Ironman,when they were in trouble and punched in a bunch of stuff. Potts couldn't do it. Black Widow helped the story go further. The only time Potts got her hero moment was in Ironman 1 twice,and when she informed Hogan in Monaco and got Hammer arrested,you're making Potts out to be more useful than she was in Ironman 2 I think. For the most part,I don't think Potts helps keep Stark alive,Stark clearly helps himself more to stay alive than she doe's.

[UnionJack]

The scene where Black Widow hacks into War Machine and then tells Stark about it annoyed me, for some reason Pepper was on the other computer and we got a short stupid conversation about Tony dying, why was she there all she did was yet again moan at Tony for doing something, it totally broke up the tension of the moment for a what I guess was supposed to be a little comedy moment which just failed and was pretty pointless.

[TheVileOne]

Originally Posted by kedrell

When? He was talking about his earlier film. Most likely he was referring to Marisa Tomei in The Wrestler.

Wrong. He was very complimentary of her when he accepted his indy spirit award.

[kedrell]

Well the Marisa Tomei part was a guess since that was his last movie. Maybe he wasn't referring to her then. But he clearly was referring to some other film and not IM2 so I don't think he was talking about Paltrow or Johanssen.

[haephestus]

I'm not a huge Paltrow fan, but I was definitely a fan of Pepper Potts in the first film and it's a shame they didn't expand on her role in the second film.

Neither Pepper nor Natalie/Natasha were treated particularly well when it came to screen-time and (IMHO) it would have been better if Black Widow had been removed entirely and more screen-time was given to Pepper's character.

With a "romance" now in place, I hope we see more of Pepper in IM3 (although I still want to see a Pepper/Happy ending and I actually thought they were hinting at that development with their few scenes together in IM2).

Cheers.

[UnionJack]

Its "Iron Man" not "Iron Man and friends" I feel Pepper is given enough time, maybe a little too much in the 2nd film, she doesn't need a massive role she is an assistant ... now gf I guess of the main character, she is not the top bill that pulls the crowd in, I'm pretty sure no one would mind if her role was left the same or made smaller, other than Gwyneth herself.

I hope she has a super small role if any role at all in Avengers and as for IM3 I'd rather we have more time in the villan/Tony than what we have in this 2nd film of the story been pulled 3-5ways with Tony, Pepper, Shield, Hammer and Whiplash.

[SurfDUI]

Originally Posted by UnionJack

Its "Iron Man" not "Iron Man and friends" I feel Pepper is given enough time, maybe a little too much in the 2nd film, she doesn't need a massive role pulled 3-5ways with Tony, Pepper, Shield, Hammer and Whiplash.

heh, 'Iron Man and his not so Amazing friends'

Well, you have to give the General Audience a female role to latch on to, and the Pepper character can be broadened out so she grounds Iron Man. It can't just be the boys playin.

Another thing way back in the day, Pepper, Tony and Happy were around each other a lot, the old 60's Iron Man cartoon Happy would put the armor on...and then get beatdown. Its funny both those characters died off a long time ago. Just think of her as the adult in the room.

"I lost both kids in the divorce"

[Keyser Soze]

Originally Posted by TheVileOne

Wrong. He was very complimentary of her when he accepted his indy spirit award.

I think you're wrong on this one. He's been not too complimentary towards her, on multiple occasions. One interview where I can specifically remember the words he used, it went something like this:

INTERVIEWER: What were your co-stars like in The Wrestler?

ROURKE: Evan Rachel Wood is a great young actress, and was a joy to work with.

INTERVIEWER: And what about Marisa Tomei?

ROURKE: (long pause) Evan Rachel Wood is a great young actress, and was a joy to work with.

[Immortalfire]

As she said in the first film, Tony wouldn't be able to tie his shoes without Pepper around.

She rocks.

[GhostPoet]

Originally Posted by spider-neil

miss potts was edging dangerously close to MJ/spider-man lana/smallville out and out annoying in this movie.

Are you kidding me? Did you watch the movie? :P In the first film she was basically Tony's babysitter. But in this film she actually put her put down and grew a spine. She was a much stronger woman, even freaking leading the company.

[Figs]

Originally Posted by UnionJack

Its "Iron Man" not "Iron Man and friends" I feel Pepper is given enough time, maybe a little too much in the 2nd film, she doesn't need a massive role she is an assistant ... now gf I guess of the main character, she is not the top bill that pulls the crowd in, I'm pretty sure no one would mind if her role was left the same or made smaller, other than Gwyneth herself.

I hope she has a super small role if any role at all in Avengers and as for IM3 I'd rather we have more time in the villan/Tony than what we have in this 2nd film of the story been pulled 3-5ways with Tony, Pepper, Shield, Hammer and Whiplash.

After awhile, comments about Pepper, Happy and Shield/Nick Fury being in the movie too much don't bother me and I started to realize a lot of those comments are coming from fans of the movies and not necessarily fans of the comics. In the comics(early days especially) Pepper and Happy are both in it quite a lot. Nick Fury and Shield are also a fairly big part of IM's world as well.

Coming from a filmgoer's standpoint I can see why they were distracting or uneeded but me being a huge fan of the comics...I loved it. Favreau not only was inspired by the Demon in a Bottle and Armor Wars stories but one of the old school stories(forgot which number/s and I think it was still in Tales of Suspense before IM got his own self title comic) were Happy helped get him his suitcase with the suit in it, in that as well as a few other issues, Happy was very prominent in them.

[UnionJack]

Originally Posted by Figs

After awhile, comments about Pepper, Happy and Shield/Nick Fury being in the movie too much don't bother me and I started to realize a lot of those comments are coming from fans of the movies and not necessarily fans of the comics. In the comics(early days especially) Pepper and Happy are both in it quite a lot. Nick Fury and Shield are also a fairly big part of IM's world as well.

Coming from a filmgoer's standpoint I can see why they were distracting or uneeded but me being a huge fan of the comics...I loved it. Favreau not only was inspired by the Demon in a Bottle and Armor Wars stories but one of the old school stories(forgot which number/s and I think it was still in Tales of Suspense before IM got his own self title comic) were Happy helped get him his suitcase with the suit in it, in that as well as a few other issues, Happy was very prominent in them.

I enjoy the comics and love to read them, but the film is NOT the comic, there is only so much you can fit in 2hour-2 and a half hours, before it starts to feel bloated and abit too full to move well, that's what I felt with this film, when it got momentum is was great but then you get a road block that slows it all down, a steady build up is best but IM2 goes, fast, slow, fast, slow, fast.
The "non comic" people I know that have seen it have all said it felt like they were trying to do too much at once, and most don't like Pepper just baffles me how she is getting so much love for not doing an awful lot.
I'd have rather had more Whiplash build up/character development than the Pepper Road Blocks.

[Figs]

Originally Posted by UnionJack

I enjoy the comics and love to read them, but the film is NOT the comic, there is only so much you can fit in 2hour-2 and a half hours, before it starts to feel bloated and abit too full to move well, that's what I felt with this film, when it got momentum is was great but then you get a road block that slows it all down, a steady build up is best but IM2 goes, fast, slow, fast, slow, fast.
The "non comic" people I know that have seen it have all said it felt like they were trying to do too much at once, and most don't like Pepper just baffles me how she is getting so much love for not doing an awful lot.
I'd have rather had more Whiplash build up/character development than the Pepper Road Blocks.

I also wanted more of that but was still happy with the film.

The film may not be the comic but as a comic fan, and I know plenty of others are like this, I want it to be as accurate as possible. I saw the movie three times and still don't agree with everyone who thinks the pacing was off but I guess that's because I wanted it to be accurate to the comics so I didn't mind the scenes with Pepper or SHIELD.

[ultimatefan]

It saddens me to realize that Pepper had a far less important role in IM2 than in 1, in spite of being nominated CEO. She had almost nothing to do that served the story. It feels like they kind of sold her character short in favor of BW, and the irony is that her character had pretty much no development as well.

[Not_Sane]

I was never a big Paltrow fan but after IM came out I enjoyed her performance and enjoyed it again the second time around....I just wish that she was in IM2 more. I agree with Ultimatefan, it does feel like they had less of her in the movie just for BW, who was really unnecessary.