Movie Review: Iron Man 3
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
After seeing The Avengers last year, I felt bad for whatever Marvel movie had to go next because it clearly had some pretty big shoes to fill. I think they made the best decision having Robert Downey Jr. and Iron Man 3 go first because of all the actors involved with the franchise, he’s the one with the most charisma and strongest acting chops. Plus, let’s face it Tony Stark is way more interesting to watch than any of the other Avengers.
In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark (Downey) finds himself struggling to come to terms with what happened in New York with the alien invasion. To cope, he’s immersed himself in his work, developing multiple sets of Iron Man armor. Also, since he is overcome with intense anxiety attacks when New York is even mentioned, all aspects of his personal life are being affected. He can’t stay too in the weeds though because a mysterious terrorist known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley in a portrayal that’s more Bin Laden than Chinese aristocrat) keeps hijacking America’s airwaves and broadcasting messages of fear, hate, and fundamentalism. When one of Mandarin’s attacks hits a little too close to home, Stark calls out The Mandarin on live TV, resulting in an attack on Tony’s mansion where he’s left for dead.
The Mandarin isn’t the only adversary Iron Man needs to worry about. Borrowing elements of the Extremis storyline by Warren Ellis, Iron Man must also face off against Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) as he looks to weaponize his Extremis serum. Within those two major plots, lived several other mini plots and moving pieces which left certain elements of the movie not as effective as most. For instance, during Tony’s Dark Knight Rises-like ascent to stop The Mandarin, he makes a stop in Tennessee and befriends a young assistant who just kept reminding me of Short Round from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom no matter what he did. Also, Don Cheadle is wasted yet again, this time brought down to an almost comedic Lethal Weapon buddy-cop sidekick. Ultimately though, even with its grandiose tossed salad of plot points, Robert Downey Jr. is able to hold the ship together with an engaging, and memorable performance. Of the three Iron Man films, I definitely enjoyed Iron Man 3 the most, even with some of its flaws.
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After Iron Man 2, it was clear the franchise needed a little jolt. The second one should have been amazing: the cast was great and the villain was a good one but it all just kind of fell flat. That’s where writer/director Shane Black comes in. Most well-known for Lethal Weapon, Kiss, Kiss Bang Bang, and The Last Boy Scout, Black brought lightness to the action sequences involving Iron Man and Iron Patriot. It works for the most part, but at some point, I wanted less jokes and more action. Thankfully, Black redeems some of the more jokey moments by delivering a few very satisfying action sequences including the previously mentioned assault on Tony’s mansion, blowing up Air Force One, and an epic finale that could have come straight from a James Bond flick. Come to think of it, there were times I was immediately reminded of 007, especially during the closing credits.
A scene from “Iron Man 3.” © 2012 – Marvel.
There are a few twists and turns in the movie that I didn’t even want to approach in this review, because doing so would ruin your movie experience. Just be prepared to be surprised along the road and keep an open mind. For instance, I know The Mandarin isn’t Chinese in Iron Man 3, but I really think his portrayal in the film works well within the self-contained world of Iron Man and the Avengers. Reflecting on the movie, I really think the portrayal of The Mandarin is inspired. What’s not inspiring about Iron Man 3 is the post-production 3D work. Don’t waste your money upgrading your ticket for a “3D” experience.
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