Shane Black’s first attempt at Iron Man glory was a soaring success.
“Iron Man 3” is the final installment in the trilogy and the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to follow 2012’s “The Avengers.” The main cast from the previous film, Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle, all return to the franchise. Shane Black (writer of “Lethal Weapon” and director of “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”) takes over the directorial position from Jon Favreau, who directed the previous two films, though Favreau still produces and reprises his small role as Tony Stark’s bodyguard and driver.
Given the record of third installments in trilogies, I was cautious with my optimism before seeing the film. However, I can happily report that the film surpassed all my expectations and made for a wonderful summation of the character evolution of Tony Stark. The story was a roller coaster ride that kept me guessing until the very end and threw in several twists that I never saw coming. It was darker than the other Iron Man films without loosing its humor and charm. It follows Tony Stark as he reflects on the world and his life post-alien invasion.
The action sequences and visual effects are just as heart stopping and dizzying as ever, once again making the audience wish they had a flying suit of armor too. The end battle between The Mandarin’s army and a legion of automated Iron Men is perhaps only rivaled by the final fight in “The Avengers” as the best finale in Marvel movies history.
The acting is spot on, and once again cemented the over-the-top world in reality. Downey Jr. continues his record of excellence while adding new depth as a man dealing with the trauma of intergalactic war.
Paltrow embraces her somewhat underwritten part and elevates it, becoming a love interest and damsel in distress you actually care about and want to see survive.
Don Cheadle, having taken over the part of Col. James Rhodes from Terrence Howard after the first film, once again provides a foil for Stark’s over the top exuberance with calm determination.
New additions to the franchise include Rebecca Hall as Dr. Maya Hansen, Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian and Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin.
Hall’s performance as a former colleague of Tony’s is admirable, but suffers from the sad standard of under-writing that so many female parts seem to be afflicted by.
Pearce’s portrayal of Aldrich Killian is as smarmy and slimy as the worst used-car dealer. He presents a man who would be amazingly inspirational if he wasn’t so purely narcissistic and conniving.
The standout performance among the newcomers is, predictably, that of Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin. Following in the vein of Tom Hardy as Bane 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises, he plays the enigmatic, seemingly all-powerful leader of a terrorist organization with a strange and oddly alluring speech pattern. He presents a truly creepy threat through his use of videos reminiscent of terrorist organizations aired on hi-jacked TV stations.
Over all I give the film a B+ for great acting, engrossing story, and high-flying fun.
