Iron Man 3 Review

Rated PG-13 (Sequences of Intense Sci-Fi Action and Violence Throughout, and Brief Suggestive Content)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 10 Minutes

Cast-

Robert Downey Jr.-Tony Stark/Iron Man

Gwyneth Paltrow-Virginia 'Pepper' Potts

Don Cheadle-Colonel James 'Rhodey' Rhodes/Iron Patriot

Ben Kingsley-The Mandarin

Guy Pearce-Aldrich Killian

Rebecca Hall-Dr. Maya Hansen

Jon Favreau-Harold 'Happy' Hogan

James Badge Dale-Eric Savin

Stephanie Szostak-Ellen Brandt

Ty Simpkins-Harley Keener

William Sadler-President Ellis

Miguel Ferrer-Vice President Rodriguez

Paul Bettany (voice)-Jarvis

Shaun Toub-Ho Yinsen

Xueqi Wang-Doctor Wu

Directed by Shane Black

Tony Stark finds himself beaten when facing off against the mysterious Mandarin.

Note: At AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13.

Fifty years…that's how long Marvel Comics' Iron Man has been around. Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby and first appearing in 1963's Tales of Suspense #39, Iron Man has always been viewed as a 'second-tier' character from people who weren't overly familiar with the comics but that all changed in 2008 with the release of Jon Favreau's "Iron Man." Mired in development hell for the better part of sixteen years, "Iron Man" was a major turning point for Marvel; not only was it the first film to be completely self-financed by them but it also marked the beginning of the so-called 'Marvel Cinematic Universe.' Having a bunch of super heroes (who each had their own individual series) team-up was a regular occurrence in the world of comics but for a film? It was a major gamble, one that paid off in a huge way last summer with Joss Whedon's "The Avengers," the culmination of five years of hard work and dedication. Reception to the film was incredibly enthusiastic from both critics (93% on Rotten Tomatoes) and fans, and the worldwide box office gross stood at a gargantuan $1.5 billion at the end of its run. Now we're entering 'Phase 2' and it's only appropriate to have Iron Man once again kick-start the next slate of Marvel films with "Iron Man 3." Despite a change in directors with Shane Black replacing Favreau, "Iron Man 3" retains the humor, and more importantly, the heart of the previous entries. While it suffers from uneven pacing and a somewhat bloated story, the film is frequently engaging and even includes a number of twists that you wouldn't expect from a summer blockbuster.

After his near-death experience in New York City with his fellow Avengers, a restless Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) has been suffering from frequent anxiety/panic attacks and fearing for the life of his live-in girlfriend Virginia 'Pepper' Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), he retreats to his Malibu home to tinker with his Iron Man suits. His obsession with protecting her results in friction in their relationship but that's the least of his troubles when the Ten Rings, the terrorist organization that previously kidnapped Stark, begins to wreck havoc around the world under the leadership of the mysterious Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). Working with his corporate rival Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) and using an experimental regenerative treatment known as 'Extremis' created by scientist Dr. Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), the Mandarin puts Stark's former bodyguard Harold 'Happy' Hogan (Jon Favreau) in a coma during one of his bombings. An angry Stark vows revenge but the Mandarin presses the attack, launching an all-out assault on his home. With all his suits (except one) destroyed and presumed dead by the rest of the world, Stark is forced to hide out in a small rural town in Tennessee as he recuperates and rebuilds while trying to ascertain just who the Mandarin really is. At the same time, Stark's friend James 'Rhodey' Rhodes (Don Cheadle) independently pursues the Mandarin at the behest of the United States government under the moniker 'Iron Patriot.'

"Iron Man 3" is by far the darkest film in the series and similar to last year's "The Dark Knight Rises," the story (inspired by Warren Ellis and Adi Granov's Extremis storyline) finds Tony Stark stripped of all his gadgets, forcing him to rely solely on his wits and his intelligence. Many view "Iron Man 2" as a step down from its predecessor but I thought the film was actually an improvement because it was more introspective, with Stark struggling to live up to his father's legacy when faced with his own mortality. Director Shane Black (who previously worked with Downey on 2005's "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang") takes the same approach but from a different angle, asking the question: What does it mean to be Iron Man? What separates the 'man' from the 'suit'? When the film begins, Stark is a mess, a chronically paranoid and obsessed insomniac suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Any reminder of the incident in New York City sends him into a hyperventilating panic attack and he either retreats into his Iron Man suit or lab. Just when things couldn't get worse, the Mandarin soon strikes at his very home and leaves Stark with virtually nothing. This leads to one of my favorite parts of the film as Stark is forced to play detective and in a very fun nod to "Last Action Hero," he teams-up with a precocious child named Harley played by Ty Simpkins. Black wisely avoids the sappy route in their interactions and even pokes fun at it. What I love about the second act is the way it emphasizes Stark's ingenuity despite being totally out-matched and there's even a 'fugitive' aspect that I greatly enjoyed. The most interesting (and risky) aspect of the script is the way it handles the central villain. Even twelve years later, 9/11 continues to have an impact and using the real-world as inspiration, Black re-imagines the Mandarin as this Bin Laden-like figure who frequently issues taunts toward the United States via public broadcasts. However, there is a major twist with the character that has already proven to be quite controversial among comic book fans. I myself didn't have a huge problem with it because I never expected the films to be 1:1 copies of the comics. What "Iron Man 3" really suffers from is far more mundane and is typical of today's Hollywood blockbusters. The pacing tends to be problematic and there's an inescapable feeling of franchise bloat, with too many characters running around. Nevertheless, there's never a dull moment thanks to the witty and often hilarious dialogue, and if this is the final "Iron Man" film as its ending suggests, then it certainly goes out in style.

Although a newcomer to the world of big-budget filmmaking, Black manages to craft some pretty impressive action sequences. By far the most memorable is the Mandarin's sudden attack on Stark's Malibu home. This scene finds our armored hero on the defensive but he soon recovers, later leading a daring rescue from a plummeting Air Force One and an army of remote-controlled Iron Man suits during the film's explosive climax, set on an oil rig. It's not all about the CG effects however and equally as fun to watch is Stark and Rhodes taking down the bad guys with good 'ol fashioned fisticuffs. Their 'buddy-cop' relationship reminded me of Richard Donner's "Lethal Weapon," which Black wrote. As for the 3D, I opted for the 2D version instead. Reception to the 3D (which was post-converted) has been mixed so it would appear that I made the right choice in avoiding it. Brian Tyler's score is appropriately loud and bombastic, even if it is somewhat derivative.

The acting is once again top-notch and not since Christopher Reeve (or Hugh Jackman) has an actor so embodied a comic book character.  Robert Downey, Jr. once again brings a snarky charm to Stark but there's also a layer of doubt that wasn't there before. His near-death experience has shaken his confidence and Downey delivers an excellent performance as a superhero struggling to do right not only by his friends but also himself. Gwyneth Paltrow unfortunately disappears for much of the second act yet still leaves an indelible mark, donning the armor at one point in a nod to her stint as Rescue in the comics and even delivering the killing blow in the finale! Don Cheadle comfortably settles into his role as Rhodes, his back-and-forth banter with Downey providing plenty of funny moments. Ben Kingsley steals quite a number of scenes as the Mandarin and I love the voice he uses. It suggests someone who's educated and invokes present-day fears of homegrown terrorism. Guy Pearce is suitably smarmy and sadistic in his secondary villain role, with James Badge Dale standing in for Mallen from the Extremis storyline. Finally, there's Rebecca Hall as Dr. Maya Hansen and while she's integral to the plot, the actress is criminally underutilized.

Released on May 3, 2013, "Iron Man 3" has received largely positive reviews with 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics hailed it as a 'witty, entertaining adventure and a strong addition to the Marvel canon.' General audiences enjoyed the film as well despite the mixed reception among comic book fans regarding some of its twists. Box office wise, "Iron Man 3" is already an unqualified success with a massive $1.1 billion in the bank. Less certain is the franchise's future, as Downey has begun voicing his concern that it's perhaps time to move on from the character. With charismatic performances and stunning action scenes, "Iron Man 3" provides the right amount of balance between narrative and spectacle. This is popcorn entertainment done right.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

"Some people call me a terrorist…I consider myself a teacher. Lesson number one: Heroes, there is no such thing."

As always, don't leave during the end credits or you'll miss a fun cameo!