Iron Man 3 is the latest movie in The Avengers franchise and opens in theaters today. I was invited to a free screening of Iron Man 3 in order to share my review with my readers. All opinions are 100% mine.Iron Man 3 is a sequel to not just the previous Iron Man films, but also to The Avengers. It will help to have seen the other movies. Particularly, The Avengers. In the film, Tony Stark is mentally and emotionally reeling from the events of The Avengers which are referenced several times. In the movie he is dealing with the internal demons as much as the films villain.
From the official Studio Synopsis:
Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce & Shane Black and is based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of “Tales of Suspense” (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with “The Invincible Iron Man” (#1) in May of 1968.
“Iron Man 3” is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures and DMG Entertainment. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing and Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz are executive producers. The film releases May 3, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
The movie continues Tony Starks' (Robert Downey, Jr.) one-liners, but I don't think they were quite up to the level of the previous movies. He spends more time alone in the film without Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow), Happy (Jon Favreau), or Rhodes (Don Cheadle). The movie started quick with some action scenes and seemed to run a little slow in the middle before picking up for the finale.
Make sure you stay at the movie through the end of the credits (and they are long) as there is an additional scene as there is at the end of each of the movies in the Avengers Universe. Also, if you are a Downton Abbey fan, look for the show to appear twice.
At the screening I attended, the trailers included Thor: The Dark World and Monsters University. There was also a preview for the new Disney XD Show Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. which premiers this summer. My daughter is excited for Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. since it features not just Hulk, but She-Hulk and Red Hulk.
Are you wondering if Iron Man 3 is kid-friendly? Read my thoughts on the kid-friendliness of the movie.
While I enjoyed Iron Man 3 and recommend seeing it, I felt that it did not live up to The Avengers which we loved. One of the people seating behind me was saying that he did not like the movie and was challenged by his companions who did like the movie. I will be seeing the movie again this weekend with my family. During the movie I was evaluating whether I thought it would be appropriate for my daughter. On a second viewing, I hope to be able to focus on enjoying the movie instead of evaluating it.
Disclaimer: I was invited to a free screening of Iron Man 3 by Walt Disney Studios in order to facilitate writing this review. All opinions are 100% mine.
