My first
review for Pantages’ Theater was Iron Man
2, so there is a personal pride in returning to the solo adventures of Tony
Stark as he helps launch Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After the unparalleled success of The Avengers, hopes were high that Iron Man 3 would be first film to finish
a Marvel Trilogy on a high note…let’s face it, X-Men: The Last Stand and Spider-Man
3 both crashed and burned. And while
everyone was thrilled to see Robert Downey, Jr. again, comic book fanatics were
ecstatic that Ben Kingsley would be portraying The Mandarin, one of the top
comic book villains whose showdown with arch-rival Tony Stark was first foreshadowed
in 2008. With a gritty trailer promising
a darker tone, promotional partnerships with everyone from Audi to Subway, and
a digital campaign featuring all the new armors that were going to be introduced,
anticipation was skyrocketing. Iron Man 3 was already shattering
international box office records, so with my IMAX 3D tickets in hand, I was ready
to enjoy what was primed to be one of the biggest cinematic debuts of all time.
Exciting,
funny, and filled to the brim with jaw-dropping action, Iron Man 3 is remarkably effective as the final chapter of the
revered trilogy, even if Shane Black does fail to capture some of the same
charm as the previous entries. Robert
Downey, Jr. is in his prime as Tony Stark, balancing the character with an
effective mixture of razor-sharp wit and vulnerability, but the biggest
surprise was Gwyneth Paltrow delivering a far grittier take on Pepper
Potts. From a special effects
standpoint, the film is awe-inspiring, with the House Attack and Air Force One
sequences standing out in particular; and even if the final battle was a little
disappointing, it was still an awesome showcase of imagination. Unfortunately, Iron Man 3 is immensely weakened by its script, which utilizes unnecessary
plot devices that negate established elements of the franchise, and twists characters
in ways that either foregoes historic mythos or completely wastes the talent of
the cast…poor Rebecca Hall. Shaky narrative
aside, Iron Man 3 still remains a ridiculously
entertaining must-see entry within the Marvel Universe.
Overall
Recommendation: High
