Iron Man 3 is an exciting, fun, big budget action picture but when compared to the first two...this is pretty thin soup. It features the explosions, dumb dialogue and creepy villain that everyone goes to a superhero movie to see. However, there is no real substance and oddly enough, Jon Favreau was the director they needed to keep on. The new director is Shane Black whose only other feature was the incredible action film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang which also starred Robert Downey JR. In Iron Man 3....Black proves that he knows his way around an action set piece but not a story.
The film opens at a New Years party when Tony Stark (Downey JR) is being his old obnoxious, drunk self. Oh yeah...I forgot to mention the party was taking place in 1999 long before Stark suited up. Stark tells Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) that he will meet him up on the roof in five minutes for a potential business proposition. Stark, however, does not follow through. Flash to years later and Stark must go up against both Aldrich and a terrorist named The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley.) Meanwhile...Colonel James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), Stark's beloved partner is changing his superhero name from War Machine to The Iron Patriot for political reasons.
Downey JR is entertaining as always here. However, this is the first time his shtick got to me a bit. He's good...don't get me wrong but his wackiness may have gone a bit overboard this time. Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow as Stark's wife, Pepper do a good job at reprising their roles. Lastly...Pearce and Kingsley make great villains even if I had a major problem with their characters. That major problem is that it felt as if co writer-director Black along with his co-writer, Drew Pearce were trying to do too much of a Bane meets The Joker thing with The Mandarin and Aldrich. Yes...I know these are characters from the Iron Man comic book but I still felt like that idea was being shoved down the audience's throat a bit too much.
The film is well shot in the action department but the story is weak. We get the same old lines about how Stark must protect Pepper and some incredibly stupid stabs at comedy. The only thing I liked about the plot was when Stark meets a kid named Harley (Ty Simpkins.) Actually...I loved this plot because you think it may turn into Stark being a father figure to this kid but he doesn't play those games. Also...there is actually some really funny stuff in their relationship. The film is saved quite a bit by the last act which is incredibly thrilling.
Iron Man 3 gave me the impression that Downey JR should just quit while he's ahead. That is if his contract lets him. Don't get me wrong....Iron Man 3 is a good movie. Alright...Iron Man 3 is a very good movie. It's just that there is always that one point in someone's career when the actor starts to look too old and too tired to be doing what they're doing anymore. Who knew that the most prominent cop movie line "I'm getting too old for this s***" could actually be incredibly accurate to actors as well? It happened with Sylvester Stallone twice with Rocky and Rambo. It happened to the Jackass crew and now it's happening to Downey JR himself. To RDJ---I love you, buddy but it's time to let go.
(3 and 1/2 out of 5 Stars, The film is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief suggestive content)
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