There are things I like about the latest Iron Man film and there are things I dislike about it as well.
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
What I liked, Robert Downey, Jr who always has a commanding presence on the screen no matter what role he plays. The problem I had with this film is similar to the one many people felt about The Dark Knight Rises, not enough of the hero and too much self loathing of the man behind the hero. Tony Stark is basically dealing with post-traumatic stress after the events of The Avengers. But when an Osama bin Laden type of terrorist called the Mandarin (played wastefully by Ben Kingsley) threatens America with carnage, Stark issues a challenge of his own and the challenge is met with devastating results as his home is destroyed and reduced to rubble in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Enter, Iron Man.
Very loosely based from its comic book origins, The Mandarin in this feature is a farce. He’s just a figure head who plays for laughs who is not even the real big bad of the story. Speaking of which, rounding out the cast is Guy Pearce as inventor Aldrich Killian, who has developed a system for regeneration of human limbs and now seeks world domination (hint, he’s the big bad). He was once turned down and insulted by Stark and somehow knows Pepper Potts pretty well but not sure how though. And then there’s Stark’s ex-girlfriend Maya Hansen played by Rebecca Hall. She is a scientist but how is she relevant to the overall story is still a mystery. Too much going on and not enough clarity as to why.
Pet peeve though, has to be a new remote device. Stark doesn’t even have to be in the Iron Man suit to control it. What’s the point then? Watching him through the first two Iron Man films and The Avengers invent and be one with the suit is what gives the character his charm. Somehow, I feel a little cheated by this new device.
The climax of the film reminded me of why I love these films in general. The action was awesome. It was great to see Don Cheadle as Col. Rhodes/Iron Patriot get involved but you end up wishing for more because he is such a great actor and his character should have been utilized better. I thought Gwyneth Paltrow was also under utilized and at no fault of her own, was simply going through the motions. And then, there is director Shane Black who needs to stop going to the well too many times when it comes to sight gags. Seriously, how many times can we see Stark’s suit pop on and off before it becomes old? He may be the Joel Schumacher of the Iron Man franchise. Joss Whedon he is not or Jon Favreau for that matter.
Like a lot of films of this genre, the more money it makes and the need to create more lends itself to becoming a parody of what made it work in the first place. Also, the studios banking on name recognition first and story after often leads to a less than satisfying feeling when all is said and done. Is this the last we’ll see of Iron Man? No, because The Avengers 2 is on the horizon., But I would also like to see another Iron Man because Robert Downey, Jr. is that good and his character is that cool to see. Only time will tell.
**1/2 (out of 4)
**1/2 (out of 4)
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
