Synopsis: When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
Verdict: What a great start to the summer blockbuster season! There's never a dull moment in this threequel that significantly ups the ante in terms of action even if character development has been slightly sidelined.
More so than ever before, Robert Downey Jr. really embodies the role of Tony Stark. He manages to get the audience to sympathise with Stark through all of his suffering following Avengers Assemble whilst still not losing the essence of his character, being the gobby, snappy one out of the Avengers. Gwyneth Paltrow also gets a lot more to do here, from just being eye candy in the first two films she finally gets in on the action in this instalment... Even getting to suit up at one point! Sir Ben Kingsley was a revelation as The Mandarin, another brilliantly sinister terrorist for the big screen following The Joker in The Dark Knight and Silva in Skyfall.
Where this film really shines though is in the epic twist, saying anything would simply spoil it but you definitely won't see it coming. It makes for a much darker film than the previous two (a rather bleak hostage scene made me question how appropriate this would be for younger fans), without being as bleak as other superhero films such as The Dark Knight. Shane Black's script knows when to lighten the mood though, with an unlikely buddy comedy to add to the wit as well as some unsubtle references to British culture such as puns involving Downton Abbey and Cockneys.
Stay until after the credits (even if they do seem to go on for an eternity) for a scene featuring one of the other Avengers which ties the whole film up nicely.
Whilst this film may not quite reach the heady heights of last year's Avengers Assemble, this is a significant improvement over the disappointing Iron Man 2... Here's hoping Robert Downey Jr. continues to play Tony Stark for years to come.
4.5/5
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