Iron Man 3

Shane Black picks up where Jon Favreau left off, and this Iron Man has a different feel from the start. A more human, less superhuman feel, and that might be the point. Act one introduced us to the perfectly cast Robert Downey Jr. as the man we all wish we could be (sort of). Iron Man, for what I would consider to be a second-tier superhero, has become the poster boy of the Marvel universe, with nobody except perhaps Wolverine as more recognizable or universal at this point. It's for that reason that the third film had to take a slightly different turn.

The first act is always the introduction to the character. We get to know them, their lives, their limitations, and the boundaries of reason within the franchise. The second act introduces us to a spectacular (or lackluster) enemy. The third act, gives us a glimpse into the flaws and personal struggles of our protagonist. In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark is battling his burning emotions. Anxiety, fear, love, and the reality that he isn't invincible. Shane Black does a nice job of letting Stark's close friends prove their allegiance by putting themselves in harms way in spite of the dangers inherent to being close to him. Nowhere is this more evident than with his girlfriend/assistant, Pepper Potts (recent Sexiest Woman Alive winner, Gwyneth Paltrow). Pepper as well as Colonel Rhodes (Don Cheadle) step up and are much more pivotal pieces of the story, as we see Tony Stark much more than Iron Man in this film.

Downey Jr. is incredible, as usual, in the role of Stark. There is so much wit, confidence, snark, and arrogance, but it is very endearing. We know that his true intentions lie with protecting people and using his considerable resources and intellect for good. That's what makes his flaws and vulnerabilities so relatable. He's a good guy at heart, through the thick outer shell of machismo. You can even see this at work in his interactions with his fans, children, and complete strangers.

Paltrow channels her inner-action star and steps into the suit (literally) in a much more central role. No longer is she the damsel in distress, Pepper kicks some serious butt. Her character is a great contrast, and a great match for Stark. She's logical, grounded, and puts up with his shenanigans while keeping him in check. Cheadle trades in his War Machine image for the Iron Patriot, a much more kinder, gentler weapon of mass destruction. He also spends considerable time outside of the suit, and is a great on-screen partner for Downey Jr. I'm personally glad that Terrence Howard passed on Iron Man 2.

Now we get to the bad guys. We have two in this film, as any good superhero film does nowadays. Guy Pearce plays the reformed nerd with a bit of a gripe, and Ben Kingsley plays The Mandarin, an eccentric English speaking Osama Bin Laden whose terrorist attacks are ferocious and meticulous. His voice reminds me of Heath Ledger's take on the Joker back in 2008, and the idea is frightening, especially with the jihadi video messages interrupting regularly scheduled transmissions. You imagine from the beginning that the Mandarin has something that he's hiding, something we haven't been privy to, even as an audience.

There is a pretty significant plot twist a little over midway through the movie, and it's a disappointment. Big time. I would love to be a wallflower in the writer's room when they decided that it was a good idea. Original? Perhaps a little bit. Satisfying? Not at all. It kind of threw the whole idea of what we thought was happening in the movie out the window. Baby with the bathwater if you will.

Maybe there is a lack of original ideas, and to their credit, the visual effects were amazing. Regenerating limbs, burning men, and of course, Robert Downey Jr. flying through the air doing maneuvers like an F-22. The action scenes are great, and although I was expecting a bit more wall-to-wall action after reading some early reviews, the few major sequences were pretty great. Particularly the mid-air rescue, and the destruction of the Malibu mansion.

What I didn't really like is the progression of the technology. Of course, things need to get bigger (or in some cases - smaller) and better, but what originally bordered on sci-fi visionary technology has become pure fantasy. Don't get me wrong, I love the suits and the gadgets. There's something universally inspiring about technology. However, when the AI robot butler becomes the savior, it's gone a bit too far.

I love what Jon Favreau did for this franchise, and for Marvel. The Avengers has an endless supply of ideas, storylines, and even characters. They can thank Jon for that. Iron Man did what X-Men valiantly attempted but ultimately failed to do, and that was attract a mainstream audience to a fantasy universe. He's no doubt reaping the benefits in spades as an executive producer. I'll try to find his cut, but at nearly $500 million worldwide and counting after the domestic opening weekend pulled in $175 million, he's definitely seeing green.

Shane Black is an interesting director with not a lot of experience in this position. He's paid his dues through the years as a strong action writer (Lethal Weapon franchise). The surprise to me was the use of Ben Kingsley. A veteran Oscar-winning actor with limitless potential in a surefire memorable performance. They squandered that opportunity however. I was also happy to see James Badge Dale in a strong antagonistic role, serving as the hired help. He's been a favorite of mine ever since he chopped his own hand off in 24, or killed Leo DiCaprio in The Departed. He's in World War Z and The Lone Ranger later this summer, so it's a very good year for him and his upward trajectory.

Ultimately, this was an unexpected disappointment. I love the franchise. Love the characters, but this one left me feeling a bit cheated. Even Iron Man 2 had Mickey Rourke in an over-the-top Russian accent for God's sake. Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley just weren't that caliber. Of course you have to see it, but if you don't see movies every week, I would say wait for Star Trek on May 17th. Of course, there is no shortage of blockbusters this summer, so you'll have your pick. Can't blame anyone involved in the project, but it just didn't satisfy me fully. 6/10.