The Iron Man 3 comedy show

Rating: 4/10 (1 May 2013)

Jon Favreau directed the first two instalments and although second film wasn't as well received as the first, there were no continuity issues, because the themes and tone in both films were the same. For Iron Man 3, Shane (Lethal Weapon) Black is behind the camera. When it was first announced he would be helming this, the overall consensus was that he would do better job than Favreau did with the second film. I like Shane Black and I think his screenplay work for the Lethal Weapon series and Last BoyScout help define the action genre. There's also Monster Squad, which happens to be a personal favourite of mine. But with Iron Man 3, he's seriously dropped the ball. Apart from being the one of the most hyped up, marketed movies to come out this year. It's also one of the worst superhero movies I've seen. So two categories, GOOD AND BADhere goes!
THE GOOD
Robert Downey Jr is great as always. He continues to show us that this role was tailor made for him. This is much more of a Tony Stark movie than it is an Iron Man movie. Stark going through a rough time after battling Loki and the Chitauri warriors with the Avengers, starts experiencing nightmares and anxiety attacks and for the first time we see Stark vulnerable, questioning whether or not he can continue as Iron Man. Downey Jr handles this side of Stark's character very well, and at the same time still manages to use Shane Black's script, with a dash of RDJ improv and come up with some hilarious one liners.
This is without a doubt his best performance as Iron Man/Tony Stark. How do his supporting cast members do? Well with the exception of Paul Bettany, who plays his faithful computerised butler Jarvis, everyone else is found wanting. No really, they either look bored or don't say much at all. The set pieces are incredibly well done and the finale at the end is by far the best of the series. There are loads of visual pyrotechnics and great direction from Black, who does a solid job capturing the muscular set pieces on display.
THE BAD
The main antagonist played by Guy Pearce is the worst villain of the series. At the start of the film, Tony Stark rejects his idea for a nightcap with Rebecca Hall. Another talented actress wasted in this mess of a film. Anyway, the rejection fuels his passion to use everything he has to get back at Stark years later.
So over the years he turns from science nerd to suave megalomaniac, making the death of Iron Man and Tony Stark his number one goal. OK great, but as a villain he was terrible. There was nothing remotely special about him and as bad as Sam Rockwell was in the 2nd film, Guy Pearce (who is an amazing actor) had no real presence as the films antagonist. James Badge Dale who played his main henchman, didn't have much to say but his look alone was scary enough to suggest that he would've made for a better villain than Pearce.
Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow, just tag along and William Sadler, who I haven't seen for years plays a simple President of the United States. The actual Extremis story that derives from the comic book doesn't translate well into film and a lot of the scenes with Tony Stark trying to find himself in some hick town in Tennessee are long and boring. However, the banter between him and the orphaned kid (Ty Simpkins) who helps Stark find his way, was very good and kept me entertained before the eventual finale.
THE MANDARIN! The hype surrounding who would play this iconic character, kept fans on edge for months. Ben Kingsley was confirmed and we all rejoiced hearing that the same man who played Don Logan in Sexy Beast and The Hood in Thunderbirds would play the Mandarin. Sounded like a great idea at the time, but his inclusion is primarily the reason why this film, in my eyes, is such a failure.
No spoilers here. Let's just say that everything you know of the Mandarin, doesn't even see the light of day in Iron Man 3. Of course we're never going to see Fing Fam Foom or the 10 rings of power he possesses in the comics. But the least they could've done was make him look formidable or terrifying. What we get is Ben Kingsley collecting a pay cheque and ruining one of the most hyped films of 2013 with a truly shocking performance.
The comedic tone of the film just doesn't sit right. And Black's script, as funny as it is at times feels like it belongs in a different film. Oh and did I mention, minus the excellent set pieces, it is a complete and utter bore fest. What a terrible way to end a trilogy! But I guess any Marvel film following on from the behemoth that was the Avengers had a tough act to follow. Continuity wise, it runs well with the Avengers time line, hopefully anchoring Thor 2, Capt. America 2 which will follow behind the much anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy. See I know my stuff. I just hope I'm able to banish the memories of this load of garbage before then.
Netflix reserve list? Watch this at your local and let me know me know what you think.
I think it's this year's Transformers 2.
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