GRADE: B +
Robert Downey, Jr., Gwynneth Paltrow. Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall and Ben Kingsley
Screenplay by Drew pearce & Shane Black
Directed by Shane Black
Let's be honest: at this point, MARVEL STUDIOS doesn't make movies. They make the most expensive, spectacular TV series of all time, and they release a new episode on the big screen every six to twelve months. They are in serious danger of over saturating the market in much the same way that the Star Trek franchise did toward the end of the 90's, when it was impossible to look forward to more Star Trek because there was always a version around in one form or another.
As such, I wasn't hugely excited about Iron Man 3. As great as Robert Downey, Jr. is in the role of Tony Stark, the character wasn't particularly engaging in Iron Man 2, which was really just a two set/commercial for The Avengers, which came just last summer. There simply hasn't been any time to miss him. And with a sequel to the megafranchise of all time coming in the near future, there's the inescapable feeling that nothing too major can happen in any of the individual Avenger character films, because they are saving the big stuff for when they get together.
However, whether it's MARVEL, or merely writer/director Shane Black (the man who created the Lethal Weapon franchise), someone hit upon the idea that if this is going to be a glorified, big screen TV series, let's have some fun with that. In the same way that individual episodes of The X Files or Doctor Who can vary wildly in tone - one week you have horror and the next you have light comedy - Black has created a departure from the norm while still maintaining largely true to the material, and the result is a wild, if frenetic, ride.
As the film opens, Tony recalls a New Years Eve party in 1999, which plays like a Thanksgiving episode of Friends. Tony is busy flirting with scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), inventor of Extremis—an experimental regenerative treatment intended to allow recovery from crippling injuries - and as such has little time for fellow scientist Aldrich Killian, who offers them a place in his company Advanced Idea Mechanics. When Stark promises Killian that he will meet him on the rooftop, Killian waits on the roof but, alas, his hero never shows up, and he is faced with the sad fact that he is essentially the same character Jim Carrey played as Edward Nigma in Batman Forever, right down to the glasses and bad wig.
As the film opens, Tony recalls a New Years Eve party in 1999, which plays like a Thanksgiving episode of Friends. Tony is busy flirting with scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), inventor of Extremis—an experimental regenerative treatment intended to allow recovery from crippling injuries - and as such has little time for fellow scientist Aldrich Killian, who offers them a place in his company Advanced Idea Mechanics. When Stark promises Killian that he will meet him on the rooftop, Killian waits on the roof but, alas, his hero never shows up, and he is faced with the sad fact that he is essentially the same character Jim Carrey played as Edward Nigma in Batman Forever, right down to the glasses and bad wig.
Years later, Stark's experiences during the alien invasion of New York are giving him panic attacks. Restless, he has built several dozen Iron Man suits, creating friction with his girlfriend Pepper (Gwynneth Paltrow.). Meanwhile, a string of bombings by terrorist The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) has left intelligence agencies bewildered by lack of forensic evidence. When Stark Industries security chief Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau, who directed the first two Iron Man films and shows tremendous class by showing up to play a supporting role here) is badly injured in one such attack, Stark overcomes his stupor and issues a televised threat to the Mandarin, who responds by destroying Stark's home with helicopter gunships, and as far as anyone knows, Tony Stark is killed.
It's here that the film really takes off and becomes something utterly unique, as Tony's suit is severely damaged and he is forced to rely on his own ingenuity, and the help of a young boy (Ty Simpkins). The interplay between Downey and Simpkins is hilarious and is worth the price of admission alone. From here, the movie is equal parts science fiction and zany comedy, going so much wilder and sillier than the previous film that I found myself thinking of Gremlins 2 at more than one point. There are also heavy doses of the 80's buddy cop style action formula to remind us that this is, after all, Shane Black. With this much fun going on, the movie can be afford to be a bit short on coherent plotting. If Samuel Goldwyn were alive today, he's say this film had a lousy plot but a great story, and he'd be right. The story of Tony Stark and his efforts to focus his world and face his demons, and to figure out where to go next, is truly terrific, and makes up for the rather sloppy plot of Aldrich Killian's revenge scheme.
In the end, Iron Man 3 is just another super hero movie, albeit with some delightful twists on the genre. But much like Tony Stark, the film, and perhaps the entire Marvel superstructure, finds a way to make that more than enough, and frankly, more power to them. Well, not really. They don't need any more power. Please don't give them any more power.
Iron Man 3 is rated PG-13 for a surprising amount of violence, mild profanity and sensuality.
It's here that the film really takes off and becomes something utterly unique, as Tony's suit is severely damaged and he is forced to rely on his own ingenuity, and the help of a young boy (Ty Simpkins). The interplay between Downey and Simpkins is hilarious and is worth the price of admission alone. From here, the movie is equal parts science fiction and zany comedy, going so much wilder and sillier than the previous film that I found myself thinking of Gremlins 2 at more than one point. There are also heavy doses of the 80's buddy cop style action formula to remind us that this is, after all, Shane Black. With this much fun going on, the movie can be afford to be a bit short on coherent plotting. If Samuel Goldwyn were alive today, he's say this film had a lousy plot but a great story, and he'd be right. The story of Tony Stark and his efforts to focus his world and face his demons, and to figure out where to go next, is truly terrific, and makes up for the rather sloppy plot of Aldrich Killian's revenge scheme.
In the end, Iron Man 3 is just another super hero movie, albeit with some delightful twists on the genre. But much like Tony Stark, the film, and perhaps the entire Marvel superstructure, finds a way to make that more than enough, and frankly, more power to them. Well, not really. They don't need any more power. Please don't give them any more power.
Iron Man 3 is rated PG-13 for a surprising amount of violence, mild profanity and sensuality.
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