Iron Man 3

Originally posted to the DMI Review on 5/28/13

Built to Last

by Hunter Isham

        2008's Iron Man was a breath of fresh air, giving us a superhero who is neither a brooding, injured individual nor a chipper do-gooder. Tony Stark was a narcissistic playboy weapons manufacturer who quickly found himself on the wrong end of a terrorist attack. Reborn as Iron Man, the hero who was a narcissistic playboy billionaire with a cause, Stark still had some growth ahead of him. Jon Favreau's film also kicked off the multi-billion dollar franchise now known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which culminated for the first time last year in The Avengers. Just about everyone loved that film, but the same can't be said for Favreau's 2010 sequel Iron Man 2, which spent too much time preparing for Avengers, and not enough time telling Stark's story (not bad, just not Tony-centric). Now that the super-team-up is behind them (for now), the folks at Marvel have given us a stellar third entry in the Iron Man series, creating a personal story that handles the dark stuff without forgetting its light-hearted, snarky roots.
        Set during Christmastime after the events of The Avengers, we find Tony Stark a bit of a mess. He can't sleep, he's having panic attacks, and he can't escape the feeling that he's just a man in a suit next to a super soldier, a god, and a Hulk. To add to the trouble, a bin Laden-esque super terrorist known as the Mandarin is making unexpected attacks all over the country. When an old friend is caught in the crossfire, Tony invites the wrath of the Mandarin, and boy does he get it. As the film's trailer depicts, Stark's Malibu mansion is destroyed, as are his suits, and this is what really sets the plot in motion, as he's left alone without his armory or super-pals, working to uncover the mystery behind the Mandarin while attempting to rebuild with the same ingenuity he used when he was trapped in that cave in the first film. From this point forward, Iron Man 3 plays out with the expected levels of fun and intrigue, involving everyone from the President to a cute kid who helps Stark when he's down and out while avoiding the cliché of being a cute kid who helps our wounded hero.
        This wide range of characters is brought to life by a top-notch cast. By now, Robert Downey, Jr. simply is Iron Man, and here he thankfully doesn't coast on his success, giving the audience a Tony Stark who, for the first time since donning his suit, can't handle the obstacles put in front of him. It helps that he's matched by excellent villains, including Ben Kingsley's Mandarin, a growling iconoclast bent on teaching America a lesson. Chameleon actor Guy Pearce is equally excellent as an oily figure Stark rebuffed more than a decade earlier. Rebecca Hall is fine as another figure from Tony's past, a scientist developing a treatment that can regenerate limbs, although she has less to do than her experiment. Don Cheadle, returning as Tony's best friend Col. James Rhodes (who himself has a weaponized suit), similarly has a sporadic amount of material, but he makes the best of his scenes. The one series regular who gets a boost in importance here is Gwyneth Paltrow, whose Pepper Potts even gets to join in some of the spectacular action sequences as more than just a damsel in distress.
        Speaking of those action sequences, it should be noted that Iron Man 3 features Stark out of the suit perhaps more than any of the previous films, but when he is flying high and battling the bad guys, it's pretty great. Two standout scenes come late in the film, the first being a daring rescue when members of the Air Force One flight crew go shooting out of the back of the plane, and the second being the film's climactic battle involving more than a few Iron Man suits of armor. There's also some fun that harkens back to Tony inventing without his wealth and infrastructure there to protect or provide for him. Overall, the film creates a nice balance between the character moments and the action that allow the human element to breathe in the face of the big explosions and swooping cameras.
        Iron Man 3 simultaneously takes itself seriously while keeping its tongue planted firmly in cheek, giving Tony Stark the standalone follow-up he deserves. Although we've seen moments of fledgling growth from Tony in the past, he truly reaches new ground with this installment, finding out whether or not his Iron Man suit was the key to leaving his old ways behind him. Shane Black does a wonderful job of providing material that is so perfect for Robert Downey, Jr. to play, and the fantastic supporting cast does a great job making this film more than just a one man show. The end of Iron Man 3 leaves the future uncertain for Stark, just as it is for Downey, Jr.. This film fulfills his existing contract with Marvel (a famously frugal bunch), and he's now in negotiations to return for more Avengers outings, which he seems ready to sign on for. More solo endeavors are the big question, and if this third film in the Iron Man trilogy is Downey, Jr.'s last front-and-center outing, we can all rest safe knowing that this Iron Man is one that will satisfy for years to come. 8.75/10