Director: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Ben Kingsley and Guy Pearce
Run Time: 130 Minutes
Certificate: 12a
IMDb Summary: When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
Ever since his solo on-screen introduction in 2008, Iron Man, and Robert Downey Junior for that matter, has been at the center of the Marvel universe. Now the leader of the Avengers, with a movie trilogy under his belt, the super tech hero is the epitome of comic book brilliance, and perhaps the most admired and hilarious of Stan Lee's many admirable creations. As for 'Iron Man 3', it's no secret that this may well be Downey's final solo outing, so let's just say this - he sure has set the bar impossibly high for any other actor who might be brave enough to take on a role that has become inextricably bound with Downey's unique star persona. Half the time, we're wondering whether he's actually acting, as it seems that both he and Tony Stark belong to two sides of the same coin.
The film itself employs a slightly different and refreshing tone to that of it's predecessors, most likely as a result of a new director in the form of Shane Black. It really pushes the comedic ark whilst engaging with the obligatory spectacle that such a movie requires, and this is thanks to fantastic dialog and improvisation - Downey Jr is renowned for creating unscripted, scene stealing gems, and 'Iron Man 3' is no exception. This, along with the narrative in general, makes the pace of the film deliriously entertaining, every minute simply bounces erratically from place to place, twisting and turning in ways that we certainly didn't expect.
After the global success of 'The Avengers', where Tony Stark was arguably at the peak of his technological powers, this third adventure sees him stripped down to the bare minimum, having lost many of his suits, as well as his mansion, in the very early stages of the film. This proves advantageous for the story line, as it demonstrates the vulnerable side of a notoriously rich, famous and narcissistic character - in fact, it's reminiscent of the very first 'Iron Man', where Stark has very little aid from either tech materials or other characters. He does, of course, triumph by the end, leaving us with a breathtaking final fight sequence that really showcases all of his technologically innovative levels.
There are many new faces along for the ride also, most notably a sinister Ben Kingsley, who turns in an ever expected stellar performance as The Mandarin. If it's one thing these films have got perfect every time, it's the cast. Even Gwyneth Paltrow gets a shot at the action this time around, as the reliable love interest Pepper Potts, and her turbulent relationship with the cocky super hero is one of the most hilarious and endearing aspects of the film. A perfect couple indeed.
Overall, 'Iron Man 3' is a fitting conclusion to a very successful trilogy, and if it should remain simply that, a trilogy, they've done a mighty fine job. Although, we have to admit, our hopes to see Robert Downey Jr revisit this fantastic character a few more times are simply too hard to ignore.
