Movie Review: Iron Man 3

Spoiler Free 

After a nearly record-breaking opening weekend that pushed its worldwide take up to an estimated $680 million, Iron Man 3 is on pace to make well-over $300 million domestically. Generally favorable reviews and word of mouth endorsements will more than likely propel it there, allow me to continue the trend... but not without some critique of what I saw.

Entertaining and fast-paced as it was, it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi that detracted from the overall experience in the end. You may think me jaded for saying so, but when you've seen your fair share of movies... there's something about the intricacy and complexity of film that gradually reveals itself if you pay close attention.

Summer blockbusters like Iron Man 3 tend to de-emphasize character development, relationship dynamics, and rationality in general in favor of mind-numbing action and computer generated graphics. Not that I'm complaining about that, but there were a few moments where I realized just how commercialized and contrived this franchise has become since the first one in 2008... rife with more subtlety and nuance.

Another way of describing this has been referred to as 'jumping the shark'... defined as such-

The moment in the evolution of a series when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery, which is usually a particular scene, episode, or aspect of a show in which the writers use some type of gimmick in a desperate attempt to keep viewers' interest.

Don't get me wrong, I was thoroughly amused by all 135 minutes... including the short humorous scene after the credits. Robert Downey Jr. is so charismatic that he effortlessly carries the weight of the movie on his own, his larger than life persona and magnetism as Tony Stark is one of the primary reasons why audiences keep coming back for more.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle are mostly dead weight, but the adversarial team of Ben Kingsley and Guy Pearce are more than sufficient. Where this movie truly excels is in the conflict zone, which is seemingly genuine and urgent. There is a considerable amount of suspenseful build up, so much so that the pay off seems a little hollow in the end.

Despite what may seem like a fair amount of criticism, that doesn't change the fact that this is a recommendation review. There may not be a nationwide release this summer that is more thrilling and technologically-savvy. Star Trek: Into Darkness and Man of Steel could come close, we'll just have to wait and see.

My Grade: B+ (88%)