Iron Man 3

2012’s Iron Man 3, written and directed by Shane Black.

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Guy Pierce, Gwyneth Paltrow, James Badge Dale, Rebecca Hall, Don Cheadle, Ty Simpkins, Ben Kingsley, Jonathan Favreau, and Paul Bettany.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash, and Daniel Sudick).

What is it about?

Taking place shortly after the events of The Avengers, Iron Man 3 returns us to the world of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), now suffering the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Flooded by memories he doesn’t care for, Tony turns inwards and works obsessively towards improving his combat suit technology. The resulting lack of attention to his tech company and loved ones such as Piper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), accelerates his anxiety attacks. Meanwhile, a terrorist named The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), who has been attacking American sites with bombs that don’t seem to have any bomb-like mechanisms or evidence, declares war on the impulsive Tony. With his mental health fragile, will Tony be able to grow past his limitations to combat the Mandarin and grow as a human being?

Why is it worth seeing?

Iron Man 3 is the first film of phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Marvel’s (mostly successful) attempt to take over multiplexes as we know them. With the 2 stand alone Iron Man films, combined with Iron Man’s co-leader role in the Avengers team up already completed, Iron Man 3’s greatest accomplishment is its innovation. Instead of more of the same, director/co-writer Shane Black was brought on board, and Tony’s tech based character takes on new wrinkles in a more sardonic environment.

Some of Shane Black’s peccadilloes are on full display here: the Christmas setting (Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and The Nice Guys), the helicopter attacks, and the voice over narration. But hands on the most Black-ian element is the cynical humour of the characters that runs throughout the film. From unimpressed town locals to soon-to-be unemployed henchmen, it’s a welcome and hilarious change from the usual Marvel wheelhouse of corporate checkboxes.

With Black attempting something different, while we do see Tony attempting to improve his suit technology, it’s biggest mission statement is to see who Tony is behind the suit, and, without it. Here is the rebuttal to Captain America’s comments to Tony in The Avengers, about who he is without (all of) his technological enhancements. After a lot of comic book MCU mayhem, it’s great to see the focus on a human being instead of a metal suit.

Unfortunately, Black’s innovation eventually has to give way to both Black’s limitations, as well as studio expectations. While there is a stunning skydiving sequence, all of the previously mentioned more personal touches in Tony’s arc eventually give way to big battle sequences, particularly in the climax. While somewhat exciting, it makes things uneven, as we watch Tony almost take on a uncle-like role with a stranger, and then abandon its potential in favour of cynicism and paint by numbers formula. Despite that, Iron Man 3 is a healthy bounce back from Iron Man 2, and is one of the more unique MCU films. Will MCU honour the change that has happened here?

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.