Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, III & IV • May 15, 2013 Scatter-shot script undermines new ‘Iron Man’ by Dennis Seuling “Iron Man 3” takes place after the events of “The Avengers.” Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is suffering from post-traumatic anxiety, can’t sleep, and occupies himself tinkering with various gadgets in his Malibu home. Things are not going too well with live-in honey Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), either. Meanwhile, a lethal, maniacal terrorist known as the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) has been making threatening videos and is planning surprise attacks on innocent Americans. Though the movie has more than its share of dazzling 3-D special effects, it is a shallow undertaking, coasting on fumes from the first two movies. An action hero flick should, at the very least, be straightforward and avoid nonessential subplots in the interest of keeping the pace brisk. “Iron Man 3” is a stew of all the elements unimaginative filmmakers believe are necessary to maximize box office dollars. Tony’s pal, Colonel Rhodes (Don Cheadle) returns and participates more than merely dropping in for a cameo spot. Computer-generated razzle-dazzle has been amped up so the film’s final 15 minutes are a virtual demo reel for state-of-the-art CGI. A creepy villain with an interesting twist is on hand to challenge Stark and his Iron Man alter ego, and Stark is given a fair share of quips and under-thebreath asides. But director Shane Black fails to merge these ingredients to both remain true to the Iron Man mythos and offer view- Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) tinkers in his workshop in ‘Iron Man 3.’ ers something new. Stark is seen for most of the picture out of his Iron Man getup since he has been experimenting with robotizing the suit. He goes through the first two thirds of the movie as if he has been dazed rather than traumatized by his previous misadventures. He undergoes an occasional anxiety attack or two, but they are awkwardly inserted. The best thing about “Iron Man 3” is Guy Pearce, who portrays behind-the-scenes maniac Aldrich Killian. Once offhandedly dismissed by Stark, Killian has now achieved the power to avenge the slight. Pearce portrays crazy without chewing the scenery, making Killian all the more disturbing. Pearce is so good he easily overshadows Downey, who often looks distracted as he meanders through his role. Paltrow’s Pepper is given a chance to do more than make elegant entrances and bat her eyelashes. This time around, she shows some grit and drive to help Tony when the going gets tough. This movie follows the trend of empowering women in film, portraying them as more than attractive window dressing. A film based on a comic book character with a loyal following has the difficult task of appealing to the fan base and a mainstream audience. Fans will undoubtedly appreciate that much of this picture seems like a comic book in motion. As far as average viewers looking for a good movie, be warned that “Iron Man 3,” rated PG-13, may be fun while you are watching it, but will leave a meager lasting impression.