film: Iron Man 3
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Ben Kingsley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Jon Favreau, Rebecca Hall and others
Director: Shane Black
You don’t expect much from the third part of a film, even if it’s Iron Man. Yes, it has Robert Downey Jr, but that doesn’t change the fact that the characters are the same, the music is the same and the theme is the same – Iron Man is cool, Iron Man rocks, Iron Man beats the bad guys. So the most one hopes for is not to get bored. However, with a new director at the helm – and Jon Favreau staying on as producer and Happy Hogan – the film exceeded my relatively low expectations.
While the franchise isn’t quite Christopher Nolan’s Batman, and shows no sign of ending either, the filmmakers haven’t got us tired of Iron Man yet. A lot of the credit must go to the inspired casting of Robert Downey Jr. Of course, we’re used to his deadpan wit by now. But his seemingly effortless timing, and his ability to make the most hackneyed of lines sound spontaneous is arguably the best thing about the Iron Man films.
We don’t quite get an origin story here – how much fun the first edition was! – but we are led into the film through a prologue. To those familiar with the comics, we go back to the days when Tony Stark was involved with Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall). His high-handedness with scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) back in 1999 will go on to dictate the course of the film.
It’s hard to say anything about the plot without giving it all away, but the main kick in Iron Man Three is that we aren’t quite sure who is really whom, and which way they will turn. While a part of you knows that everything has to turn out okay, because this is an Iron Man film after all, there’s something about the storyline that makes you nervous. One particular incident shows you the filmmakers aren’t going to make sentimental compromises.
There’s something to be said for acting that makes it possible for lines as tired as “Today is the first day of what’s left of your life” and “Do you want an empty life, or a meaningful death?” sound plausible. But Iron Man Three is not a flawless film.
Aside from moments that are painfully reminiscent of Twilight, one wonders why Ben Kingsley found it necessary to take on such a mundane role.
Also, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) chooses this film to get all housewifely and possessive. I mean, seriously, woman, he calls you the one thing he can’t live without, stop complaining that he doesn’t make the time for you.
Her character begins to grate in the film, so much so one feels Stark should just move on – to the Black Widow, perhaps. We all know it’s begging to happen.