Iron Man 2 Gwyneth Paltrow aka Pepper Potts: the REAL unsung hero of the Iron Man Movies

[DACrowe]

This thread is long overdue. I don't frequent these boards enough and I wanted to drop in a separate complimentary post about her work in IM2...and lo and behold there is no Pepper Potts thread!!!! There is a basic Paltrow is cast thread...from August, but nothing more.

Well this is outrageous. It seems fanboys take Pepper for granted as much as Tony does.

This movie made me appreciate Paltrow in these films so much more. While these are Downey's vehicles and they are ONLY his movies, his best scenes are with Paltrow. They have an amazing chemistry and Favreau has done a great job of mimicking the same foreplay one would find in a Howard Hawks or Frank Capra movie. I didn't realize how much I loved her in the role until she was underused in IM2.

IM2 drags in the middle, that is no secret. The plot can be muddled at times. But whenever she is on screen, Downey perks up along with the audience as another witty rapport is about to begin. They are a joy to watch. Downey may own Iron Man, but he brings his best game to the movies when he is bouncing off of her. And she is the unsung hero of these movies.

So, to Stark's CEO and the one who keeps him, and his acting alterego, on their best behavior.

 

[Catman]

lo and behold there is no Pepper Potts thread!!!!

They were too busy drooling over Scarlett Johansson and wondering who Olivia Munn was playing.

 

[Tony Stark]

I certainly don't. I loved Pepper's roll in both movies. And I think the way Tony and her get together at the end really pays off, because of the great chemistry between Downey and Paltrow in the first movie and most of this movie.

As I said, this is the movie Spider-man 3 should have been and wasn't, if you're going for the Superhero love story thing.

 

[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.

 

[RoboAmish]

IM2 drags in the middle, that is no secret. The plot can be muddled at times. But whenever she is on screen, Downey perks up along with the audience as another witty rapport is about to begin. They are a joy to watch. Downey may own Iron Man, but he brings his best game to the movies when he is bouncing off of her. And she is the unsung hero of these movies.

I must say, I disagree sir

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.

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

 

[DACrowe]

Agree to disagree. The script was weak from the word go and hopelessly mechanical. Watching Tony sulk, get drunk, dance in his suit, sulk some more, etc. intercut with Hammer pushing Vanko around...

The two things that kept the middle hour afloat IMO were Rockwell riffing by himself and Downey and Paltrow riffing off each other. The plot was just blah, imo. So seeing those three performers come alive in some scenes and just have fun was the most entertaining parts from the Vanko in prison scene to the Stark Expo at the end. I feel this movie was a few clicks away from SM3 if not for their superior acting scenes. Even if it was not narrative driven.

In my opinion, of course.

 

[TheVileOne]

What's funny is that Mickey Rourke publicly trashed her and her acting which was surprising.

 

[RoboAmish]

Agree to disagree. The script was weak from the word go and hopelessly mechanical. Watching Tony sulk, get drunk, dance in his suit, sulk some more, etc. intercut with Hammer pushing Vanko around...

The two things that kept the middle hour afloat IMO were Rockwell riffing by himself and Downey and Paltrow riffing off each other. The plot was just blah, imo. So seeing those three performers come alive in some scenes and just have fun was the most entertaining parts from the Vanko in prison scene to the Stark Expo at the end. I feel this movie was a few clicks away from SM3 if not for their superior acting scenes. Even if it was not narrative driven.

In my opinion, of course.

Must say, you're right on the money about the script and Rockwell. He pretty much saved the movie for me

 

[hugekent]

I must say, I disagree sir

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.

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

Yeh I'm with you. All she did the whole time was ***** and moan and be pissed off at Stark. I really could've done without her.

 

[FNSpidey]

Yeh I'm with you. All she did the whole time was ***** and moan and be pissed off at Stark. I really could've done without her.

I'm in the same boat. While Downey and Paltrow do have chemistry and they were indeed entertaining in the first film, here it didn't work. And the reason it didn't work was that there was no narrative to drive their scenes forward. It was as if every couple of minutes they decided they needed a Tony/Pepper scene and randomly got them together so that Pepper can be bossy and whiney a little more.

In fact, it's that same problem that sparks the SHIELD/Avengers complaints. We all know we love easter eggs. And the GA does love feeling like there's more under the surface. But with no story whatsoever (and let's face it, story was kept to a minimum with this film), it all feels like random faces talking about random stuff.

 

[Iron_Stark]

I agree with the OP, this thread is long over due.

I love me some Pepper.

 

[kedrell]

What's funny is that Mickey Rourke publicly trashed her and her acting which was surprising.

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

 

[JerseyJoker]

Pepper is Paltrow's best role, cause its the only one i don't hate her in.

She really holds the the films down and keeps Tony in track and always has this old school class for her self, while also knowing how to take care of her self without Tony.

 

[Matt]

Couldn't agree more. Paltrow gives the single most realistic performance of any female lead in any superhero movie to date. Plus she has the best chemistry with the male lead in any super hero movie to date (and possibly any movie in a long time).

 

[DACrowe]

Y'know it is kind of funny. I feel the most hyped and popular things among the fans of the film:

1) Whiplash/Mickey Rourke.
2) How hot ScarJo is in this movie and the set-up to The Avengers.
3) The War Machine armor.

Yet, in all honesty none of those things left a huge impact on me. It is not the actors' faults. Rourke and Cheadle are amazing character actors. ScarJo can be very good with the right direction and script. They just didn't have anything to do here. Almost any physically imposing actor who can...kinda do a Russian accent could have played Vanko.

The four things that stood out, IMO:

1. Downey
2. Paltrow
3. Rockwell
4. The fight scenes

And in that order. I hope Favreau pulls it back for IM3, especially if Marvel gets Avengers out of their system, because like Raimi this was just too much. And just because he handled it faster than Raimi, I do not think he handled too much better. If he wants to make a fun superhero flick, as he obviously does, that coasts off awesomeness and acting...then don't make a convoluted film that bites off more than it can chew.

Again my hats off to the three actors who I think kept this movie entertaining. Because despite an awesome first act with the Congressional Hearing and the Monaco stuff. From the prison escape to Hammer's EXPO presentation, the film really does coast off the acting for an hour.

 

[danoyse]

Couldn't agree more. Paltrow gives the single most realistic performance of any female lead in any superhero movie to date. Plus she has the best chemistry with the male lead in any super hero movie to date (and possibly any movie in a long time).

I completely and totally agree. I loved her in the first movie, but I thought she was one of the best parts of this movie. That scene in the office was just gold.

I just love how she really knows him better than anyone and continues to be utterly flabbergasted by him at the same time.

 

[Matt]

Agreed. At first I wasn't crazy about Paltrow when she was cast as Pepper. However, after seeing her performance in the first one, I was blown away. She builds on it in the second one.

I love how she is never the damsel-in-distress as well. The writing team and Favs set her apart from other female leads in super hero movies by instead giving her something crucial to do, letting her be a hero in her own way. Plus, even when she is the damsel at the very end with the explosion, it is not because she is weak and the villain has exploited that. It is instead because she is a strong leader who stays behind to make sure others are safe before herself. Very well done. And even when Iron Man saves her, instead of swooning in his arms, she is annoyed and tries to quit.

The writing combined with Paltrow's acting just make for an amazing character who deserves far more credit than Scarlett Johannson or any super hero film female.

 

[JP]

See, I didn't care for her in the first film. In this film, however, I thought she was one of the best written characters. And Paltrow's performance was golden.

 

[DACrowe]

This link I think explains why some don't care or fanboys' thoughts on all women in superhero films. A bit of Freudian frustration perhaps?

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/BrentSprecher/news/?a=17298

Onion hit the nail on the head in how fans react to women in these movies.

 

[DACrowe]

This link I think explains why some don't care or fanboys' thoughts on all women in superhero films. A bit of Freudian frustration perhaps?

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/BrentSprecher/news/?a=17298

Onion hit the nail on the head in how fans react to women in these movies.

 

[UnionJack]

Don't like Pepper. don't like Gwyneth.

She is cold and dull and moans all the time, who wants a nagging bossy woman around constantly ... oh as he "conscience" yawn

 

[Figs]

Couldn't agree more. Paltrow gives the single most realistic performance of any female lead in any superhero movie to date. Plus she has the best chemistry with the male lead in any super hero movie to date (and possibly any movie in a long time).

Agreed with both points.

Don't like Pepper. don't like Gwyneth.

She is cold and dull and moans all the time, who wants a nagging bossy woman around constantly ... oh as he "conscience" yawn

I can understand if you don't like Gwyneth and because of that you don't like Pepper but i'll take Pepper any day of the week over just about every other female in a comic film. You say "yawn" well that's how i've felt about most other comic book film females. Oh no! Yet another damsel in distress who is helpless and weak both physically and mentally...yawn indeed.

 

[Lauryn2000]

They were too busy drooling over Scarlett Johansson and wondering who Olivia Munn was playing.

LOLOLOLOL........

I won't be surprised if Olivia Munn is in Transformers 3.
She'll be leaving that video game/high tech show...what is it called G4..soon enough.She had a small role in the movie Date Night.

 

[danoyse]

I can understand if you don't like Gwyneth and because of that you don't like Pepper but i'll take Pepper any day of the week over just about every other female in a comic film. You say "yawn" well that's how i've felt about most other comic book film females. Oh no! Yet another damsel in distress who is helpless and weak both physically and mentally...yawn indeed.

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.

There's a very genuine respect between her and Tony that it makes you really care for their characters a little more.

Like Matt said, she stayed behind at the Expo to make sure the park was clear, not to leave herself to be bait for Tony to have to save.

 

[ImWithTeamConan]

Yeah, after watching this movie I think I appreciate Paltrow and Potts' role in these movies a bit more. I'm definitely in the minority but I hope she gets to suit up as Rescue in the next movie (perhaps because of an injury due to Hammer).