Iron Man 3

The best parts of Writer/Director Shane Black’s Iron Man 3 are not the battles, but the humorous smaller scenes, including Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey, Jr.) interaction with a smart, young boy (Ty Simkins), his meeting with his nemesis The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and the overly security conscious Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau).

Shane Black and Robert Downey, Jr. worked together in the 2005 film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang where they developed the comic rhythm that worked here.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Rebecca Hall bring some welcome female energy to the franchise, adding to the fun.

 

Of course, the effects were spectacular, as well, but they are so many we become numb to them after a while and the little things provide the flavor that makes the film most enjoyable.

 

 

The film’s one mistake was not refreshing our memory as to what, in The Avengers, caused Tony Stark to, now, have anxiety attacks. As a result, those viewers with short term memory lapses or who didn't see The Avengers have no clue as to what the problem is and have to suffer through these bouts along with the character.  Since the dictum in film is “show, don’t tell,” I was surprised that Shane Black would have missed this.

Nevertheless, I give Iron Man 3 a 4 out of 5 and hope the rest of this year’s blockbusters match its energy.