Kidzworld checks out the new superhero film Iron Man 3!
By: Lynn Barker
Since The Avengers saved the Earth, Iron Man Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has been a nervous, obsessed mess, holed up in his lab determined to perfect his Iron Man armor. Not even his love Pepper Potts can really distract him but a blast from his past is about to blow his world away.
The Past Bites
Since The Avengers successfully saved the planet, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) has seen his stronger relationship with girlfriend/Stark Industries CEO Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) threatened by his obsession to build the ultimate Iron Man armor. We see a flashback to New Year’s Eve 1999 in which Tony hooked up with brilliant bioscientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) while ignoring a pitch from eager scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) who wants Tony’s backing for his company Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM). Tony’s rejection will exact its revenge.
Pepper and Iron Man get cozy
The Mandarin Rises
When a mysterious string of bombings ultimately strikes Tony’s friend and security chief Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), supervillain The Mandarin (Sir Ben Kingsley) claims responsibility. Tony urges the baddie to come get him and he does…bigtime, destroying Tony’s home and lab. Pepper and Maya Hansen, who had supposedly come to warn Tony of the oncoming attack, barely survive. Tony, in a damaged and malfunctioning Iron Man suit, follows intelligence he’s gathered on The Mandarin to Tennessee.
The Mandarin
Tony’s Tween Assistant
Tony is missing and presumed dead. Pepper mourns but Tony finds an ally in 10-year-old techie whiz Harley (Ty Simpkins) who helps both hide him and co-investigates a local explosion with the same M.O. as other Mandarin blasts. Tony learns of the Extremis program supposed to allow those “infected” with it to recover from crippling injuries. There’s a huge flaw in the program however. If the user can’t assimilate the Extremis “virus”, he’ll just heat up and blow up! A lot of veteran test subjects have exploded, thus the Mandarin’s cover-up terrorist bombing plot.
Ty Simpkins with Robert and wife at premiere
Tony Vs. Extremis
Tony has to tangle with two Mandarin agents and Extremis injected baddies when he’s attacked. Now knowing what he’s up against and with Harley’s help, Tony tracks the Mandarin to Miami Extremis HQ where he finds out that this uber-baddie is really just an actor. The real man behind the throne is that long-ago rejected scientist Aldrich Killian who has taken Maya’s Extremis research to cure his own disabilities, eventually hoping to also get even with Tony Stark. He kidnaps Pepper planning to inject her with Extremis and turn her into one of his super “hot” soldiers in the hope that Tony will fix the project’s flaw to save her.
Tony's army of Iron Men
Enter Iron Patriot
Meanwhile, Killian lures James Rhodes (Rhodey played by Don Cheadle) into a trap. Rhodey teams up with Tony to escape and foil Killian’s plot to kill the President on Air Force One. Tony can now remotely control his Iron Man armor and saves passengers on the plane in a crazy, daring skydiving rescue. The President however has been captured by Killian’s minions and is traced by Tony and Rhodey to an isolated oil drilling platform where Killian plans to off the Pres on live TV! Pepper, now turned into one of Killian’s killer soldiers, is also onboard the platform.
Iron Patriot with Iron Man
Tony and Rhodey to the Rescue
Tony summons all his newly-created remote Iron Man-style suits controlled by his supercomputer JARVIS to aid in the rescue. Rhodey as Iron Patriot saves the President while Tony finds Pepper who is not quite completely converted by the Extremis procedure. She seems to fall to her death! Tony has no time to mourn since it’s Tony Vs. Killian. Pepper’s new powers allow her to survive her fall and with their co-efforts, Pepper and her man finally finish Killian.
Tony's mansion attacked by Killian's 'copters
The Aftermath
After the battle, Tony realizes that Pepper is really the center of his universe and he needs to devote himself to their relationship. He orders JARVIS to destroy all of the remote Iron Man suits. Pepper has an operation to remove Extremis and Tony finally gets the shrapnel close to his heart removed as well, no longer needing the magnetic chest reactor he’s been wearing. He is still Iron Man, with or without the armor.
The battered Iron Man
(Note: stay through the long credits for a cute scene at the end of the film)
Wrapping Up
Iron Man 3 presents a more human and vulnerable Iron Man/Tony Stark and we are more into him than ever. There are more funny one-liners, more wild action including nice buddy action as the unsuited Tony and Rhodey fight the baddies with just guns and witty dialogue. There is a hilarious and unexpected turn by the great Sir Ben Kingsley and Tony’s reluctantly warm and fuzzy relationship with smart and cute10-year-old Harley (Ty Simpkins) gives the film more heart.
Iron Man 3 poster
It is very agreeable that Tony and Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) have a real live-in relationship now but many of their exchanges as a couple are cut short to get in more action. Both girls and guys can get into Pepper actually donning the suit and also kicking butt late in the movie in an explosive finale. The plot is a bit complicated and hard to keep straight but it is Iron Man 3’s “people” story that is at the heart of the film and by the end, Tony realizes that the Iron Man armor is “just a cocoon”. He has come out of it changed. Heavy stuff for such a popcorn movie but overall it combines with wit and great action to make the film a must for kids, teens and the whole family. We’ll go 4 out of 5 stars.
Iron Man 3 Movie Rating: 
