Summer Review #1 -- Iron Man 3

The summer blockbuster season kicks off this year with the third entry in the successful Marvel franchise, and the film turns out to be quite the curio. While still chock-full of elements that made the first two films so popular, it also grapples with aspects that go beyond the audience's ability to suspend disbelief.   

**THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

Following the events of The Avengers, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is laying low and further developing his techno empire while becoming a bit detached from girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Pepper herself is approached with a business opportunity by scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), whose company had bought Extremis, a regenerative treatment invented by researcher Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall). At the same time, there is a new threat on the horizon in the form of the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), a terrorist whose plan is to eventually murder the president. When someone from Stark's inner circle gets hurt in a Mandarin attack, the intrepid hero vows revenge...

The film is at its best when its dips into Stark's sardonic, self-deprecating sense of humor, as well as its bag of high-tech tricks and inside jokes. I loved all of the Avengers references; on that note, make sure you stay for the trademark post-credits scene. The entire Extremis element does work, but occasionally takes the film into Universal Soldier territory, sacrificing story for the sake of loud and flashy combat sequences. I understand that it is one of the most popular storylines from the comic books, but its raw brutality seems too violent for this type of film. Loki committing supernatural atrocities to achieve world domination and Magneto recruiting mutants for his Brotherhood is typical Marvel mayhem; the kind of intensity involving warmongering and super soldiers does not really fit the easygoing fantasy tone of these works. Still, the Extremis subplot uses its potential to the maximum, weaving its way into some good twists and raising the stakes for the characters.

Technically, the film is a superb achievement. It is one of those films that need to be seen in 3D, simply because you will not get to experience the fun fully without the added dimension. Among other spectacular moments, the Malibu mansion attack and the Air Force One sequence are going to take your breath away. The effects are excellent and often better than the story itself. The only detail I was NOT on board with is a detail ripped off from The Terminator, which made me shake my head at the screen. This entire sequence could have been executed in another manner. There is no reason to go after the classics.   

As for the cast, let us get this out of the way -- the talent overshadows the material at times. That said, Downey Jr. is the standout as always. The whole series lives and dies with him and, by now, the man truly is Iron Man. He is one of those versatile actors that make acting look easy, when it is anything but. He shares a sexy, playful chemistry with Paltrow, whose Pepper has evolved from a witty supporting player to a self-aware woman, one that is far from being a pushover. Kingsley is great as the ruthless and rather eloquent Mandarin, while Pearce simmers with megalomania as Killian and Don Cheadle is quietly reliable as Colonel Rhodes. Hall is a fantastic actress, but does not get a chance to shine here, since Maya seems to be present merely for the sake of linking certain parts of the tale together. On the other hand, James Badge Dale, who had a terrific presence in Shame, is viciously impressive as henchman Eric Savin. Finally, Ty Simpkins is a delight as Harley, a precocious whiz kid helping Stark out.

Iron Man 3 is not confused about its plot like the second film was, but it is not as cerebral as the first one was, either. It is an entertaining film that boasts clever twists and turns, but one that could have benefited from paying more attention to its human factor. If a fourth entry ever gets made, I hope that it leans more toward the brain and less toward the brawn. For now, I am looking forward to see where The Avengers 2 takes Stark and his alter ego.

7/10