Iron Man 3

UK Release Date. 25 April 2013
Certification. 12A
Running Time. 2 hours 10 mins
Director. Shane Black
Cast. Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Robert Downey Jr, Rebecca Hall, Ben Kingsley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce.
Rating. 49%

Review.

Iron Man 3 was the first film released by Marvel Studios following the phenomenal success of the initial superhero team-up, Avengers Assemble. Marking the conclusion of Phase I and heralding the beginning of Phase II, Iron Man 3 signalled the final solo outing for Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark.

The film demonstrably attempted to accommodate a new audience, an audience that only joined the journey at Avengers Assemble. But director Shane Black is not intent in laying foundations for Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Iron Man 3 is a stand alone film.

Iron Man 3 revolves around Tony Stark's anxiety issues, potentially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in the wake of the Battle of New York. In a world where monsters, aliens and celestial beings exist, Tony Stark's technological advances seem somewhat impotent.

Appealing as ever, Robert Downey Jr inhabits the role of Tony Stark with ease and manages to portray Tony Stark as traumatised without losing the character's nonchalant quality. Robert Downey Jr's depiction of Tony Stark remains playful, flippant, almost Chaplin-esque.

Sadly, Iron Man 3 is a mediocre film. The opening section promises much with a menacing villain, The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), overtly humiliating US politicians and broadcasters. However, a monumental plot twist derails the film, and the more tongue-in-cheek Iron Man 3 becomes, the less dramatic tension it delivers.