I tend to judge sequels on a different scale than other movies.
    Because, frankly, I expect to be disappointed.
 And why not? I have been disappointed by, in my calculations, 99 percent of sequels.
 Oh, “Oceans Twelve” and “Miss Congeniality 2” and “Jaws 3-D,” how you let moviegoers down!
 So it was with trepidation that I went to see “Iron Man 2.”
 Could it be? Yes!
 Hallelujah, it didn’t stink!
 Even better, it was quite enjoyable. It wasn’t perfect, by any means, but it held its own against the original.
 The cheeky sense of humor remained and actually improved in this new film. It doesn’t hurt that few actors can spin a one-liner like Robert Downey Jr.
 The whole tone, in fact, is lighter than the original, which had that memorable and disturbing torture scene.
 I dare say the acting is better this time around.
 Downey remains terrific as always.
 Sam Rockwell slimes his way through the role of a button-down bad guy — and I mean “slimes his way” as a compliment. He’s ridiculously entertaining here.
 Mickey Rourke has little to say but makes a big impression as Iron Man’s Russian foe.
 So much, so good.
 The problem with the sequel is the script loses its focus. It wanders off into various subplots that go nowhere. Using valuable screen time to introduce characters for an “Avengers” movie? Sacrilege! Especially when those valuable minutes could have been used for more Downey-Rockwell-Rourke face-offs.
 And the climactic battle loses lots of pow when all the actors are in helmets, so the only times the audience sees their faces are in individual close-ups. It feels as if they’re all acting in different rooms.
 What did you think of “Iron Man 2”?