Can you feel it? That cautious optimism? No, it’s not just the recent sightings of young, nubile bodies walking the LSU lakes. It is not just the dreamy weather, making you forget the vicious cold snaps of earlier months. It is not just the cheery voice of your parole officer telling you he will be out of town the week of 4/20.

No. Those are merely symptoms. Symptoms of that wonderful, shining promise that we call summer. A chance to reinvigorate your sleepy body. A chance to forge new memories, or maybe forget some old ones with new friends in a smoky basement. And if you are willing to work hard, it’s a chance to absorb enough meds and travel enough miles that it can truly be another summer you will always forget.

If you are like me, it helps to have motivation to achieve your goals. A photo, an item, or (if you dare) an icon that represents and encompasses everything your goal embodies. For me, this year, my goal for another summer of amnesia is represented by Tony.

Tony stands upon my mantle, gleaming in the rays of sun coming from my window. Red and yellow, he stands at the ready — his every curve seeming to pulse with purpose.

I paid very good money to have Tony. He is one of a kind, six months in the making.

I confess that, when I brought my plans to the local head shop, I was convinced he could not be built. However, the owner, Zeke, had made for me many custom bongs in the past … and this one has proven to be his masterpiece.

Made to look like solid iron, Tony’s chest has double doors in it, into which you place your goodies. His legs are filled with water. In his head, a butane flame, clicking on with a switch in his upper back, located right above the glass tube designed for your mouth. As his flame lights, his eye slits and circular chest symbol glow intently — creating a slightly demonic image when used in the dark.

Sometimes, he makes me weep.

Even though Zeke presented him to me three weeks ago, I saved Tony for this week, for the night I would break him in before going to see Iron Man 2!

I have been particularly excited about this movie for some time. It represents the start of summer movie season, and not a moment too soon.

For instance: Originally, I had written a review of the movie Death at a Funeral. But as you can imagine, I had to write the word “death” a lot — because of the title, the subject matter, the irony of the word as I described the film, and my wishes for its cast. It was just too depressing. So, I left last month’s column blank.

Now, there is something to be excited about. Iron Man 2 raised many interesting questions:

1. •Could this movie possibly live up to its awesome trailer?
   

2. •They added Don Cheadle and Mickey Rourke to the cast? How badass is that?
   

3. •They made an Iron Man 1? Maybe I am taking these amnesia summers too seriously!
   

But on to the film! I attended the show with every one of my dear friends, “The Legion of Shrooms,” and I can proudly say that, to a man, we cannot recommend this film strongly enough.

I sat in the middle of the group, and Tony, our new mascot, sat on an armrest next to me to enjoy the show. He deserved it: Tony had been the guest of honor during the DVD showing of Iron Man 1 earlier in the day at my apartment.

According to my friends, I enjoyed it just as much in ’08 as I did that afternoon. Now I knew the story again.

What I can tell you is, if you liked Iron Man 1, you will love this film. It has the same wit and pacing as the first and does not ever get so bogged down telling the story that it forgets to keep you laughing, on the edge of your chair, or both.

Mickey Rourke is managing to keep up the great work he has been doing the past few years. Sure, this is no drama like The Wrestler, but he is just the right combination of evil and fun to make his character work.

Don Cheadle, whom I’m convinced may be a god, is flawless in this film. He’s one of the few men I know who can make the fantastical believable and almost make you feel patriotic watching him get into the action.

The rest of the cast is so filled with incredible talent that I cannot remember a recent film so overflowing with superb performances. Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Shandling (???) … Who did they call that DID say no?

But of course, the real burden of the film falls on the shoulders of Robert Downey Jr. Right before we watched Iron Man 1 for the second time (which felt like my first), I told the Legion that I was unsure about his playing the title character. They told me I had the same reservation the last time I saw it for the first time.

But just as I had been the first and second time, I found myself blown away in this second film upon my first experience watching it … OH BALLS! I know that made no sense. Let me try again.

I did not think Downey Jr. could pull it off — not either of the two times I watched Iron Man 1 or the only time I watched Iron Man 2. Each time, I was pleasantly wrong.

The man has never been an action star. His closest try was U.S. Marshals, but the main action was reserved for Tommy Lee Jones and Wesley Snipes.

Then he tried out action again for quite some time in his personal life, trying to see if he could outrun the police, reporters, and all sorts of common sense. Truly, when it gets to the point where I, of all people, think you need to tone it down, you are seriously circling the drain.

Still, even at his personal worst, Downey Jr. always delivered in a drama or comedy. Give him any cerebral role, and the man kills. I had no problem buying him as a Sherlock Holmes type, but an action star?

I underestimated him. He is an action genius who never loses touch with his deft line delivery. He plays Tony Stark as the man we all wish we were: handsome, devil-may-care, very rich, and self-possessed. But when the chips are down, he is there to save the day without hesitation. Downey Jr. manages to marry those opposites in a way that seems natural and honest. It is a fine line to walk, and he does so with almost no effort.

As this will be the second-biggest film of the year (I would be a fool to rule out Avatar), I will not spoil any of the plot points for you except to say that the government is very interested in obtaining Tony Stark’s iron weaponry … at any cost. Add to that a lethal madman with whips that can cut metal, and it is clear that Iron Man has more than his share to deal with …

… and that is before he has to battle OTHER iron men!

Enticed? Good! Then go see this movie. Run; do not walk! This movie WILL NOT DISAPPOINT! In fact, I give you my personal guarantee that, if you buy a ticket to this film and do not enjoy it … I will be deeply confused.