Iron Man 3

Release Date: May 03, 2013  
Runtime: 2 hr. 20 min. 
Director: Shane Black 
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, Jon Favreau, Rebecca Hall.

As franchises generally go, everything is in excess when it comes to raising the ante. Meaning, more action, more characters, more tech-savvy effects. And that's all in good fun when there's little else to be had – no qualms or expectations to undermine the enjoyment. But when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we've grown accustomed to a certain degree of ingenuity that derives from back-to-back successions, the last of which was "The Avengers" that achieved the highly implausible feat. With such indulgent presumptions, it was only a matter of time before reality set in, and with it, the unfamiliar ache of actually being letdown. For its inaugural kickoff, "Iron Man 3" is, by all definitions, a summer blockbuster, marking the return of Tony Stark who's as beloved as the star who portrays him. Armed with his wits and silver tongue, Robert Downey Jr. is undeniably the best thing about the series, never knowing what he'll do or think of next. But what makes a great hero is the adversary who challenges him, and unfortunately for Iron Man, the Mandarin just isn't one of them. While seemingly represented as a terrorist in the trailer, the film's interpretation is far from conjectured. What could have been the ultimate villain is facetiously altered, resulting in a punch line that feels ill-conceived and decidedly cheesy. The same goes for the bulk of the movie which plays more like a comedy, even during the trying times when Stark grapples with mental anxiety – the result from New York. What little reference to "The Avengers" seems forced at best, the film being more interested in the man inside the suit than the actual superhero. Resultantly, Iron Man himself is frequently MIA, save for the barrage of soldiers that cap off the epic battle scene. Given that this is Shane Black's only second feature, it might have helped if he had followed the template of Jon Favreau's more closely, rather than wander off the beaten path in hopes of transformation. Instead, "Iron Man 3," personally, feels to be the weakest of the bunch, overblown and comical to the point of being flippant. But with all said and done, this is only the beginning of 'Phase 2.' If Iron Man can't do it, maybe Thor will.

Rating: 2½ stars