Movie Review - Iron Man 3

 Iron Man 3  $$$ 1/2    

 

PG-13

130 Minutes

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, and Guy Pearce.

Director: Shane Black.

 

            A good story, whether it’s a book or a movie, relies on character for its center. And Iron Man 3 does that. The character of Tony Stark and the personal conflicts he faces are what makes this film work so well.

            Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is a changed man. Sure he’s still arrogant and mostly self-centered, but both of those traits have taken a step back. Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) is now the most important thing in his life and ever since New York the Tony Stark arrogance has cracked a bit.

            Unfortunately, that doesn’t prevent the repercussions of his past actions from biting him in the rear. In typical fashion, Tony previously blew off a research scientist with an exciting discovery so that he can flirt with a much sexier member of academia. The tilted scientist, Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), took his talents and his discoveries elsewhere.

            Returning to the present we find that Killian has used his research to create a batch of super soldiers for the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley). The Mandarin is keen on showing the United States the error of their capitalistic ways and has targeted Iron Man as part of that campaign. If you’ve seen the ads for the movie then I won’t be giving anything away by stating that The Mandarin’s opening salvo against Iron Man results in the destruction of Tony Stark’s home and research lab.  

            Robert Downey Jr. does a marvelous job with the angst-ridded super hero. He allows us to feel the chinks that have formed in Iron Man’s armor through his performance. Don Cheadle also turns in a great effort as Col. Rhodes.

            As good as Downey is in this film, I think the real star is the script. The difficulty in writing a successful series is that there needs to be a progression of the overall story line. Each additional movie needs to be the same – but different. Iron Man 3 does just that. The destruction of Stark manor forces Tony to find a solution without the vast resources he normally has available to him. In addition, the recent events in New York and the relationship with Pepper Potts have left him vulnerable to attacks which his armor cannot protect against. Great stuff.

My only complaint about the movie involves The Mandarin and I can’t really say too much about that without giving away some important elements about the story that you should discover on your own. Let’s just say that I would have liked to seen more of Ben Kingsley in the movie.

            As much as I loved the movie, I hesitated giving it a perfect score. Instead I am giving it three-and-a-half Movie Bucks and recommend that you see it right away. Don’t take this rating as an indication that you should wait for a matinee. It is my favorite of the Iron Man movies and I think you will like it.

 

                        Randy’s Rating System 

$$$$   = Full Price    See this movie right away and pay full price, it’s worth it.

$$$     = Matinee      Catch this as a matinee or other discounted showing.

$$        = Discount     Wait until this movie reaches a discount theater near you.

$          = Rental         Wait until this movie reaches your local video rental outlet.

0          = No Sale       Don’t see this movie at any price.