Iron Man 3 is a bold and energetic return to the Marvel world, excelling in practically every way.
Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes, Tropic Thunder) returns as the iron-clad avenger in the third film of the character’s standalone franchise. Following the events of Marvel’s 2012 crossover film The Avengers, billionaire Tony Stark is having difficulty calming severe anxiety attacks. As a mysterious new terrorist, The Mandarin (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley of Ghandi and Shutter Island), rises to power, Stark is stripped of everything in a battle that seems hopeless. Gwyneth Paltrow (Contagion, Shakespeare in Love) and Don Cheadle (House of Lies, Flight) return as love interest Pepper Potts and best friend Colonel James Rhodes, respectively. Guy Pearce (The Hurt Locker, Prometheus) rounds out the principal cast as scientist Aldrich Killian.
Practically everything about this movie works. It not only satisfies fans of the Iron Man saga, but provides a greater context for the Marvel cinematic universe. (For those unfamiliar with the franchise, the Marvel cinematic universe refers to a ring of superhero films such as The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor that are intricately tied together. In short, if a viewer wants to fully understand the context of what Stark is dealing with in Iron Man 3, they should consider seeing every other film in the Marvel universe.) However, the film also provides plenty of straight up action, for the younger and simpler audience that, frankly, just wants to see stuff blow up.
I have no quarrels with the special effects here. Plenty of strong, realistic action which does more than just dazzle; it actually advances plot. The directorial shift from Jon Favreau (director of the first two Iron Man films) to Shane Black goes virtually unnoticed as the style experiences minor differences, but the quality remains the same.
What sets Marvel films and particularly the Iron Man franchise apart from other superhero flicks is their ability to balance action with a distinct blend of humor, romance, and suspense. Iron Man 3 is no exception. Downey Jr. entertains with a steady (but not overdone) stream of hilarious one-liners. Even the central villain, The Mandarin, gets in on some of the biggest jokes of the movie. Romance is also strong here, showcasing the delightful chemistry between Downey Jr. and Paltrow.
Iron Man 3’s script is also strong. Writers Drew Pearce and Shane Black maintain 
the style of the previous two films while also darkening the tone. Consequently, Iron Man 3 is gritty and hard, closely resembling Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight franchise. As a result of the tie-ins to extraterrestrial life found in The Avengers, there is also much more magic to be found in this film than in its predecessors. Expect an odd blend of aliens as well as humans attacking Stark throughout.
My sole complaint with Iron Man 3 is its treatment of The Mandarin. I picked up two volumes of “Essential Iron Man” at Barnes and Noble a few years back, and have been particularly intrigued by the Extremis story arc of the original comics. While much of the movie is based around and remains true to this plotline, The Mandarin’s role is completely changed. Without revealing any major spoilers, I will simply say his powers, attitude, and overall character are very different. Though The Mandarin is fun to watch, his potential to be a landmark villain falls just a bit flatter than expected.
Nevertheless, this film is loads of fun. It is the best of the trilogy and expands the storyline of the Marvel cinematic universe nicely. It will be interesting to see whether or not the Iron Man franchise continues into a fourth, fifth, or even sixth release. Iron Man 3’s conclusion certainly leaves this question open-ended. And while Downey Jr.’s contract with Marvel is up for renewal soon, a statement at the ending of the credits promises, “Tony Stark will return.”
Iron Man 3 is now playing. Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content. My rating: 8/10.
~Jesse Bontreger