Review: Iron Man 3

Everyone seems to be interested in their TV shows and movies answering their questions. I’m guilty of this as well; I wanted to know the the symbolism of the smoke monster, the history of the cigarette smoking man, and I still need to know the identity of Ted’s future wife. But these are questions being asked by all fans. What question has been bugging me about Tony Stark since 2008? What’s going on in the man’s head?

It’s a question that couldn’t go unanswered in Iron Man 3. Outing one’s self as a superhero, saving the world at least twice, and enduring considerable amounts of trauma in the process has to take a toll on your sanity. So naturally, I was pleased with how much time Tony spends outside the comfort of his suit(s) in Iron Man 3. And how much time was spent inside his head.

That’s not to say the entire film is psychodrama. It’s still chock full of spectacular scenes, sharp dialogue, and clever twists (though you might see some of them coming). But Downey has a meatier role here than he did in previous films. His armour gone, he’s forced to rely on the ingenuity we saw in the cave with a box of scraps all the more. Unable to cope with the events of The Avengers and the previous two Iron Man films, he struggles to keep anyone closer than arms length. He’s still funny, but the toll of being a celebrity and a superhero is quite evident. His swagger is fading, and we just might see him buckle under the weight of his own brand.

So when the action heats up, the stakes for Tony are as high as they can be. His suit protects him from harm, but now that Pepper, Rhodes, and Happy are all in the line of fire, it’s no longer just about him. It helps that the supporting cast all give stellar performances, with Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley stealing their share of scenes from Downey. It’s also the biggest role yet for Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts, and she gives a game performance.

Shane Black, best known as the screenwriter for Lethal Weapon and the Director of Downey’s first true comeback film Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, sticks to his guns. Perhaps too much, as the film’s Christmas setting (a favourite of Black’s) proves to be fairly redundant, given the film’s Malibu and Miami locations. But Black knows his way around a well-written action film, and Iron Man 3 doesn’t disappoint. For those who felt let down by Iron Man 2 (myself among them), Iron Man 3 serves as a strong conclusion to the trilogy, and makes for a compelling follow up to The Avengers.

But the real strength of Iron Man 3? It’s not dependent on whether or not you’ve seen The Avengers, Thor, Captain America, or even if you remember all that much about Iron Man 2. It’s a sequel that can stand on it’s own merits and only has it’s own story to tell. Iron Man 3 may have implications for future Marvel films, but I didn’t leave the theatre feeling like I had to wait for the next Marvel blockbuster to get my money’s worth.

Iron Man III can be found at AMAZON.