2013 | Dir. Shane Black | 130 Minutes
"You start with something pure. Something exciting. Then come the mistakes, the compromises. We create our own demons."
After the Battle of New York, Tony Stark obsessively builds Iron Man suits as a coping mechanism for the trauma he suffered. Meanwhile, the Ten Rings, a terrorist threat with ties to Stark's past begins an aggressive campaign utilizing an explosive new weapon. Stark must regain his nerve and reveal the secret behind the Ten Rings.
Helmed by veteran action director Shane Black, Iron Man 3 is a refreshing installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Black bringing his unique brand of sharp humor to the film as well as several massive and inventive action sequences. Several memorable and iconic action set pieces are featured throughout the film. The picture kicks into high gear when Stark, only having access to a prototype suit, narrowly escapes the destruction his home under attack by assault helicopters. In a smaller, but absolutely ingenious fight scene, Stark takes on several armed guards with only one repulsor gauntlet and one boot. Two-thirds of the way through the film, another innovative large scale action sequence plays out as Stark mounts an impromptu midair rescue operation saving thirteen Air Force One passengers from plummeting to their deaths after a villain blasts a hole in the plane. The film culminates with a giant free-for-all battle between a group of genetically enhanced soldiers and Stark's collection of over thirty unique Iron Man suits.
Robert Downey Jr. plays a convincingly vulnerable Tony Stark in this installment, unable to cope with the events depicted in The Avengers. The film humanizes Stark primarily through his interactions with a clever child who comes to his aid played by Ty Simpkins and through buddy-comedy-style exchanged with Rhodey, portrayed once again by Don Cheadle who appears to be having a lot more fun in this go-around. Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts is unfortunately relegated to a thankless hostage role for most of the film's running time, while Jon Favreau's Happy Hogan also spends most of the film out of commission, relegated to a hospital bed after the inciting incident that sends Stark on his mission. Paul Bettany returns as the voice of JARVIS, in a comedic slightly malfunctioning state after the film's first major action sequence.
Oscar-winning actor Ben Kingsley turns in a brilliant performance as the enigmatic Mandarin with an oddly comedic twist. Guy Pearce nearly chews the scenery as the villainous Aldrich Killian, head of privately funded super science think-tank AIM. Rounding out the supporting cast are James Badge Dale and Stephanie Szostak as featured enhanced soldiers employed by AIM, Rebecca Hall in a small part as geneticist Maya Hansen, Shaun Toub reprising his role as Yinsen in a brief cameo appearance, award-winning Chinese actor Wang Xueqi in a blink-and-you'll-miss-him appearance as a heart surgeon, and character actors William Sadler and Miguel Ferrer as the President and Vice President of the United States.
Iron Man 3 is a brisk and humorous action film that appropriately puts a cap on Tony Stark's character arc. Featuring exciting action sequences and an intriguing plot with a few decent twists, the picture is a worthy continuation that may also serve as a conclusion to the Iron Man film series. Where the film benefits most is how it reassesses Stark's progress as a character, allowing the character to move forward without being overly-concerned with overtly establishing the next big event in the Marvel Studios shared universe.
POST-CREDITS STINGER
Stark's voiceover that bookends the film is revealed to be a one-way conversation with Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) who had fallen asleep.
STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man is an enthusiastic beauty pageant judge.
FRAGMENTS
- Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) returns in Marvel One-Shot: All Hail The King (available on the home video release of Thor: The Dark World), revealing that he shares a cell block with Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell, last seen in Iron Man 2) and that the real Mandarin is not pleased with Slattery's unflattering portrayal of the villain
- The Chinese cut of the film features more scenes with Wang Xueqi as Dr. Wu (The Hollywood Reporter)
- Dale Dickey, Patty the Daytime Hooker on My Name is Earl, plays a small role as the mother of a soldier that fell victim to an AIM cover-up
- Rebecca Mader, who memorably played Charlotte Lewis on Lost, has a bit part as the AIM agent who captures Rhodey
- Comedians Adam Pally, Bill Maher, and Joan Rivers have featured cameo appearances
