Movie Review: "Iron Man 3"

Back in 2008, when Robert Downey Jr. first donned the red and gold armor, Iron Man was considered a "B-list" hero. But much has changed in the past five years, with Iron Man becoming one of the most financially successful superheroes at the movies, only to be absorbed into the third biggest blockbuster of all time, The Avengers. It's safe to say that Iron Man has flew from the B-list roster and stands high on the A-list now, but Robert Downey Jr. and Marvel are making the (wise) decision to go out when they're on top by (allegedly) ending the franchise with Iron Man 3- a film that is, essentially, everything you want from a summer movie spectacle. It might not be intellectually stimulating fare, but audiences that enjoy incredible special effects, badass action scenes and Robert Downey Jr.'s irresistible charm, will go home happy.

What makes Iron Man so entertaining is the character of Tony Stark- not the suit of armor he dons whenever he must face evil. What makes Tony different from every other superhero at the movies right now, especially in this age of dark and gritty reboots, is that he is constantly cracking jokes and making light of the situation- a sort of lovable smugness that Downey has captured perfectly over the last four years. But what's also fascinating about his character is his past. The fact that Stark used to be a greedy, womanizing jerk and that he is constantly trying to atone for his actions add as much dimension as a comic book adaptation could allow, and makes the audiences care for him. It's a story of redemption- who doesn't love that? In Iron Man 3, Tony is once again forced to redeem himself and audiences are immediately pulled into the story of how his less than noble actions on New Years Eve in 1999 started a domino effect leading up to the main conflict at the center of this story. And while The Avengers is woven into the story via occasional allusions and a subplot involving Tony's PTSD after almost being killed, the film doesn't feel like a sequel to the superhero mash-up. Iron Man 3 feels like both a stand alone film and an epic finale to a popular franchise.

But the film does fall prey to a major problem that threequels face- an attempt to cover too much ground in about 150 minutes. It feels as if writer/director Shane Black had a checklist of plot points he wanted to incorporate into the film. He clearly included them all, but didn't allow any of the audience a chance to reflect on what is truly going on. It's a double edged sword- on one hand, the audience will never be bored. Their are dozens of action scenes and the few minutes between them are just as entertaining thanks to funny dialogue and interesting plot developments. But, on the other, the film feels far too rushed. Everything moves at a breakneck speed, and the audience is essentially forced to form understandings about the characters based on the archetypes they've come to learn by seeing dozens of summer movies. The Mandarin (Ben Kngsely) is evil, but not necessarily because audiences are aware of the stakes at hand. We, as an audience, are just forced to accept that he is evil and is capable of doing terrible things. Meanwhile, the Mandarin's plan is never actually fleshed out more than it has to be, and whenever a new development is made Iron Man & co. quickly resolve the issue. Then, the Mandarin just reveals another facet to his evil plan and it all starts again.

That's not to suggest the script is bad, however. Granted, the film could benefit from slowing down a bit, but Shane Black has some serious talent as a screenwriter. The dialogue is fantastic, even if his true forte is in comedy and the many dramatic scenes resort to stock phrases and the occasional cliché. Black also knows how to throw some surprises into the mix, which is rare for a major blockbuster in general, let alone the third installment of a comic book franchise. There is a genuinely surprising plot twist, and a few welcome deviations from the traditional action flick formula. While Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) is certainly in danger quite a bit, she is far from a damsel in distress, while a new kid (Ty Simpkins) that helps out Tony as he faces off against evil is a welcome and surprisingly likable addition to the character roster.

The best thing about Black's script, however, is that the man behind the mask is just as entertaining as the mask itself thanks to strong writing. For much of the film, we are watching Tony Stark- not Iron Man- battle evil. Yet, even without the incredibly cool suit audiences have come to love, Iron Man 3 has the best action sequences out of the entire trilogy. At its best moments, Black makes the film feel like a spy movie, with Tony facing off against bad guys and investigating the mystery at the film's center. In fact, the Iron Man suits are only really used in the film's final third. But it doesn't matter in the long run- Black is aware of how much audiences love Tony Stark and use their affection for the character to make his suit-less scenes just as much fun as the explosive finale.

But, rest assured, the Iron Man suit plays a major role in the movie. But, strangely enough, it feels like Black is the first person to write an Iron Man movie who was aware of just how cool Tony's suits are. Without spoiling plot details, let's just say there are numerous types of armor depicted in the film, each of which possesses its own unique qualities. The action scenes near the end of this film are the definition of summer movie spectacle, with moments that will have the audience on the edge of their seats, hurriedly munching on their popcorn and slurping down their soda as they feast their eyes on the dazzling special effects. An attack on an airplane, and the midair rescue, is worth the price of admission alone, while the film's finale- which manages to incorporate dozens of Iron Man suits while still giving Tony a considerable amount of face time- is bound to leave audience's with a smile on their face.

One quick thing worth noting- this is not a film to see in 3D. The 3D effects on display are distracting and darken the movie to a point where it's almost impossible to understand what is going on. I saw the film twice- once in 3D, once in 2D- and the 2D viewing was considerably better.

Iron Man 3 is summertime fluff, but it's summertime fluff of the highest order. Fans of the franchise will absolutely adore this fitting "farewell" to their favorite superhero, while audiences as a whole are bound to enjoy the film's awe inspiring action scenes. Iron Man 3 is the textbook definition of a summer blockbuster, and while it might not be the best film you'll see all year, it's hard to imagine anyone leaving the movie unsatisfied.

OVERALL GRADE: B
___________________

Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Tumblr
Follow me on Letterboxd