Don’t let that sound like the film lacks the humor and action of its predecessors, because it’s actually the most dynamic of the three. Robert Downey Jr. returns as Stark, self-proclaimed genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist, and faces a new challenge after saving New York in 2012’s The Avengers. This time, his enemies, Mandarin ( Ben Kingsley) and Aldrich Killian ( Guy Pearce) , are more Earth-bound but just as threatening.
Downey and Stark are one in the same, so it’s no surprise that the lead actor nails the role again. Kingsley’s performance as Mandarin tops all other villain performances of the franchise and provides the biggest twist of the series. Meanwhile, despite Gwyneth Paltrow’s prominent six-pack abs, Pepper Potts is, as usual, useless in combat for most of the film, apart from getting to don a shiny suit for three minutes of screen time.
Unlike the rest of the Iron Man series that made magic look like science by using technology-driven villains, the third installment is pure fantasy — magic dressed up as science. It's a little too X-Men compared to Iron Man's history of fighting other war suits and tech-based threats. The swap is jarring for those accustomed to the superhero’s more realistic ( albeit super-scientific) roots.
Another off-putting addition to the story is Stark’s uncommonly serious voiceover in the beginning and end of the film. Unless you stay for the post-credits scene — which is worth seeing — it seems out of character for the hot-rod hero and superfluous to the story.
Apart from those two aspects, new director Shane Black ( Lethal Weapon) preserved the attitude established by original director and Iron Man 3 producer Jon Favreau. This one is definitely worth a trip to the theater, if only to get a jump on your summer quota for laugh-packed action and jaw-dropping special effects.
