What we flagged
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Our take
This Marvel sequel finds Tony Stark juggling fame, a rival out for revenge, and a health crisis caused by his own technology. The tone is brash and comic, with large action set-pieces built on guns, drones, and explosions. There is light swearing, plenty of flirting and showgirl glamour, and a notable stretch where Tony gets drunk and reckless in the suit. Violence stays bloodless. Young teens who already enjoy this kind of comic-book action will be on familiar ground
Uplifting themes
Beneath the spectacle, Tony wrestles with his own mortality and his father's legacy, and leans on his friends to pull out of a self-destructive patch. Friendship and owning your mistakes come through Tony is brilliant but selfish and reckless here, and much of the film is about others calling him on it. Rhodey and Pepper act as the steady, responsible voices around him
Story (may spoil tone)
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.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Iron Man faces a whip-wielding attacker at a crowded race track, a flee…
Iron Man faces a whip-wielding attacker at a crowded race track, a fleet of combat drones, and a destructive expo showdown. Gunfire, robot fighting, and explosions run throughout, with injuries kept bloodless
Language Swearing is light but present, with a few uses of the s-word, plus hell…
Swearing is light but present, with a few uses of the s-word, plus hell and the b-word. It stays occasional and never a steady stream across the film. You will hear it in the arguments. It never takes over the film
Sex / nudity Tony is still a flirt, surrounded by showgirls and trading suggestive b…
Tony is still a flirt, surrounded by showgirls and trading suggestive banter, and there are passing jokes about prostitution and a harassment lawsuit. Nothing is shown beyond flirting and a kiss
Drugs / alcohol Tony drinks heavily at his own birthday party and ends up drunk inside…
Tony drinks heavily at his own birthday party and ends up drunk inside the Iron Man suit, showing off recklessly. The spiral is treated as a low point, not a punchline, but there is clear party drinking
Frightening Tension stays low for the most part, though the race-track attack and t…
Tension stays low for the most part, though the race-track attack and the swarming drones in the finale make for some loud, chaotic set-pieces. Little here is designed to frighten younger viewers
Gore / death / weapons Guns, military hardware, and prototype weapons fill the plot, and Tony…
Guns, military hardware, and prototype weapons fill the plot, and Tony is quietly poisoned by the very tech keeping him alive. People are hurt in the battles, but the film avoids wounds and blood
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
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Talk after watching
- Tony hides how sick he is and acts out instead of asking for help. Why is it hard to lean on people when things go wrong?
- His birthday party gets out of hand with drinking. How does your family talk about knowing when to stop?
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Iron Man 2
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