Today at Flavorpill, looking at modern gingerbread houses made us hungry. We wondered where John Lennon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star wandered off to. We questioned the faithfulness of Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes. We were impressed by both Rihanna and Jay-Z’s sticktoitiveness. We strongly disliked the idea of a warm-fuzzy web — but that might be because we were born before email. We wanted Gwen Stefani’s cable-inspired jacket. But not as much as this giant pickle jar replica. We met Gregor Brown — an existentially-challenged not-so-distant relative of Charlie. We counted down Hipster Runoff’s Most Authentic/Relevant/Successful Artists+Bands of the Decade. We took in some cool outdoor installations in Berlin. We watched the teaser trailer for Marmaduke, who is voiced by Owen Wilson. It’s not good. And finally, we used some of 2009’s catchphrases and buzzwords. Aporkalypse, birther, meep, sexting — we’ve gotta use ‘em while we still can.

In 2007, Jon Favreau had the audacity to make an Iron Man movie that was actually good. Two years later, we have our first glimpse of the inevitable sequel. What follows is a play-by-play breakdown of the new trailer for Iron Man 2 (or, as we call it, War Machine: Origins), featuring Mickey Rourke’s Burning Man-appropriate metal teeth, Scarlett Johansson’s laughable attempts at be-leathered badassery, and the brazen ripoff of a Dark Knight set-piece.

For your pleasure, we’ve highlighted some of the best parts (Sam Jackson as Nick Fury) and some of the worst (basically all the parts that do not include Sam Jackson as Nick Fury).

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The phenomenal success of the first Iron Man film meant moviegoers were going to get another chance to see Robert Downey Jr.’s reformed Tony Stark character. But there were some major transformations in order before they could start filming the sequel, and the buzz behind the scenes has been almost as interesting as Iron Man itself. There have been reports about a feud between Scarlett Johansson and Gwyneth Paltrow. Don Cheadle replaced an unhappy Terrence Howard as Stark’s sidekick, James Rhodes (War Machine), and Mickey Rourke landed the role of an energy whip-wielding villain known as Whiplash.

Check out the film stills as we explain every development and more after the jump.

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Today at Flavorpill, we met what’s probably Earth’s new ocean. We learned how to use an apostrophe. We yearned for the ’90s. We were depressed by the weak contenders in the Oscar race for best original screenplay — but rather glad to hear that Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. won’t be tag teaming the hosting duties. We downloaded Passion Pit’s Max Tundra remix. We were frightened by the news that A&E wants Kirstie Alley for a new docuseries about her weight struggles. We loved the idea of the Garbage Pin Project — “five tiny plastic bags, 90 international artists display their interpretation of value versus waste.” We watched the Russian trailer for Angelina Jolie’s latest, Salt. And finally, we giggled over Chris Brown’s tweeted defense of his new album cover. it’s called karma.

1. President Obama appeared on Letterman last night and confirmed that he was black before the election. (video)  [via The Awl]
2. Robert Downey Jr.’s upcoming Sherlock Holmes action movie — which is directed by Guy Ritchie — is already getting a sequel which will include Brad Pitt. [via THR]
3. Well that’s awkward: Polaroid might not own some of the 1,300 prints that it plans to auction off at Sotheby’s. [via Boston Globe]
4. So you think ex-House Majority Leader Tom Delay can’t dance? Then you’re probably right. [via NYDN]
5. What do a poet, a mixed-media artist, and a geriatric physician have in common? Meet the 24 recipients of $500,000 MacArthur genius grants. [via USA Today]

Bonus link: Pam and Jims’ wedding site

Despite a relatively good US run, things have turned out a bit odd for the kids flick Monsters vs Aliens. To begin with, the Dreamworks film didn’t play so well overseas, bringing in just $177.1M in foreign markets, as opposed to the studio’s Madagascar which pulled in $339.1M overseas. Equally odd is the decision to release the film on DVD on the rather inauspicious September 29, well ahead of the Christmas-time boom. Read More »

1. G-Force might have trumped Harry Potter at the weekend box office here in the US, but its global boxoffice total is already $627.2 million, making it the 39th biggest-grossing title in history after just 12 days. [via THR]
2. Robert Downey Jr. will star with Zach Galifianakis in Due Date, another Todd Phillips-directed baby/road trip comedy that begins shooting this fall. [via Variety]
3. Can the Apple tablet really take down the Kindle? (This probably isn’t helping.) We’ll know by Christmas. [via Bookseller]
4. Smashing Pumpkins debut a new drummer and a new song penned by Billy Corgan (working title: “Freak”). [via Stereogum]
5. Many art galleries in LA are expanding, in spite of the recession (we’re looking at you Gagosian, Blum & Poe). [via LAT]

1. TINA FEY – everyone will think you’re SARAH PALIN

2. Anyone from the cast of GOSSIP GIRL or THE HILLS – you’re way too old

3. DANIEL RADCLIFFE/ALAN STRANG – full frontal nudity = not okay

4. HEATH LEDGER/THE JOKER – it’s in bad taste

5. Anyone from the cast of SEX AND THE CITY – unless you’re doing it in drag — that’s ok

6. DAVID FOSTER WALLACE – it’s in really bad taste
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