There was never any doubt in the universe that there would be a third outing for my favourite super-hero of all after the success of the previous instalments coupled with the cinematic phenomenon that was
The Avengers. With the loss of
Jon Favreau however, who favoured
Cowboys and Aliens [how did that work out
Jon?] over bookending one of the greatest trilogies of cinematic history, it meant the quality was uncertain. Even when
Fav’s replacement,
Shane Black was announced it was met with excitement and trepidation.
Black was a very unlikely left-of-field choice to take over as director of something as rich in super-hero lore as
Iron Man. The man wrote
Lethal Weapon, the excessively dark original movie where
Martin Riggs was mentally unhinged and had suicidal tendencies.
Black previously directed
Downey Jr. in
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang so as potential candidates lined up for the job,
Downey pushed for
Black to take the reins and got him.
For
Iron Man 3,
Black took the best 'Armoured Avenger' saga from the 2000’s and seamlessly melded it with Marvel-style humour not seen since the 'Bronze Age' of comic books - and it worked! He managed to prevent everything from appearing silly somehow, especially the ideas that could never work in a live action semi-realistic universe. Even I was apprehensive about how
Iron Man’s comic book arch-nemesis
The Mandarin would be manifested considering he was both personification of pure evil as well as the wielder of 10 magic alien rings!
Favreau had earlier avoided
The Mandarin citing that the villain was “too fantastical”. Rather than being dismissive of the character outright,
Black found a uniquely unorthodox way of dealing with this and the result is nothing short of pure genius - once you get over the initial shock!
Black’s own signature wacky white-guy and straight-laced black-guy team-up even made an appearance here as
Stark and
Rhodey had a shootout with some bad-guys. For a couple of minutes it was like being in a cross between
Lethal Weapon and
Black’s other masterpiece
The Last Boyscout.
Robert Downey Jr. obviously returns as
Tony Stark, becoming the oldest actor to play a superhero in modern times. At 47,
Downey showed no signs of slowing up and actually had far more action sans-suit in this instalment than any other.
Stark’s debilitating issue this time is not the shrapnel near his heart or his over-fondness of fermented vegetable drinks, but instead nightmares and panic attacks borne from his experiences in
The Avengers. Additionally, despite his personal growth, he is still a rich asshole who delivers some tactless home-truths to a young boy who helps him on his way. Once again
Downey delivers a superb performance as the perpetually flawed
Stark, a man who must now regain that which is so easily lost: confidence in oneself.
Stark is backed up by his ever-suffering girlfriend
Pepper Potts [
Gwyneth Paltrow] and
Don Chedle as
Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes, no longer the sinister-sounding
War Machine but the flag waving,
Captain America-inspired
Iron Patriot!
Guy Pierce, someone who up to recently avoided these types of movies turned in a credible performance as a version of
Dr. Killian from the
Extremis comic-book storyline but it is
Sir Ben Kingsley’s mind-fuck performance as the nefarious
Mandarin that should net him his most deserved accolades since
Ghandi. Supporting this grand adventure are
Jon Favreau returning as
Happy Hogan,
The Pacific’s
James Badge Dale portrays
Savin,
William Die Hard 2 Sadler appears as the POTUS and
Paul Bettany’s vocal tones are once again lent to
J.A.R.V.I.S. who certainly has more dialog than before.
The action here is probably more infrequent than in previous instalments, with little of note happening until the end of Act 1. However this paves way for more thoughtful character development which many said was lacking in
Iron Man 2 in favour of “brainless action”. On the other hand, while it’s easy to understand some individuals disappointment with slower-paced second Act, I can’t fathom why the finale’s extraordinary finale, a true example of classic spectacular super-hero adventure film-making couldn’t turn the most staunch nay-sayer into a true believer unless… …unless they’re dead inside!
It’s far to say
Iron Man 3 is more of a direct sequel to
The Avengers even though it’s a bookend to an impressive trilogy of movies that are close to rivalling the sheer perfection of
The Dark Knight trilogy. We have been with
Tony Stark on his incredible journey and while there will likely be another appearance in
The Avengers 2 and speculation is mounting on
Iron Man 4 considering the phenomenal box-office success of this movie, the chapter in
Iron Man’s book that was opened with
the first movie in 2008 is now closed. If a new one is opened it should be something unique but bookended in it’s own right so we’re not left hanging when
Downey Jr. finally says “I’m too old for this shit” – a distinct possibility considering how tight he rolls with
Black who wrote that line before.
Final Verdict: This is a classic end to an explosive adventure and as a true fan of Iron Man I couldn't be happier with this finale. It is easily best written of the trilogy, certainly the darkest and most dramatic and it has the best score - this time from Brian Tyler. It's sagging second act and lack of Scarlett Johannson prevent it from achieving the rating exemption granted to Iron Man 2 however, but it undoubtedly deserves every star of the highest rating possible.
Colonel Creedon rating: *****+