I had the day off today and while I did spent the morning on my WIP, thank you, I completely blew off writing a blog post this morning to go see Iron Man 3 at the $5.00 early matinee with Watson.
I’d apologize for being so late, but honestly? I regret nothing.
For once, the trailers and posters actually didn’t spoil the best parts of this movie and I’m not about to start here—if you want a discussion of plot, find a real review or e-mail me.
But I will say that one of the reasons Tony Stark is among my favorite superheroes is that while he surrounds himself with self-built Deus ex Machinas—which is an important point in the movie—he himself is as flawed as a genius billionaire, former-playboy, philanthropist with the requisite crappy childhood—resulting in the usual high ego/low self-esteem— can be.
For every moment that his technology saves the day in a brilliant display, there are two that send him flying backwards into the wall, propelled by premature calculation syndrome and a highly amused law of physics.
And then, he picks himself up and fixes the problem. Even when the problem is himself. Even when he doesn’t have the first clue how to start.
I like that in a hero, even if that hero isn’t channeled through the brilliant Robert Downey, Jr.
Watson says that I watch movies with my entire being, and I’ll admit that there were several points in this movie where I laughed out loud, gasped, and/or whispered things from Awwww! to Called it! to BOO-yah! to Wait, What?! No WAY!
And, in one shining moment that may be a tiny bit of a spoiler, Holy cow—forty-TWO!
I invite you, after you watch this movie, to guess when that was.*
I won’t say the movie is perfect, because it isn’t. But it’s close, and it’s fun and it’s acted brilliantly by almost everyone. It’s also a reminder that while the worst villains create the best heroes, it works the other way around, too, and Iron Man is still paying the price for being pre-revelation Tony Stark.
Plus, it has some of my favorite characters being themselves, or even better. Any movie where Pepper is allowed to be more than a . . . well, spoilers, sweetie, so never mind, but JARVIS** is as perfectly snarky as a literal Deus ex Machina is allowed to be. Even Happy, who frankly deserves better from this franchise than to be the plucky, ineffective sidekick, has his moments.
It’s definitely worth seeing more than once, even if that means skipping a blog post or two.
So there.
Now go see it already so I can talk about it. Okay?
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*There’s also a puppy-in-serious-danger moment, early on, that hurt my stomach, because I am that big a Marvel fangirl. you are invited to e-mail me about that one, too.
**On whom I’m braincrushing like whoa, though that’s partially Paul Bellamy’s fault.
Earful of Cider 
Okay, okay! And I mean, it’s Robert Downey, Jr. You don’t have twist my arm.
He’s something, isn’t he? 😉
Okay, so I read the first two sentences and then clicked to the comments for fear that the smallest detail would be shared. I have seen IronMan one and two more than any adult should be allowed. Actually, that’s a total lie. And you know what I’m going to do with my mush brain as soon as I’m done here? Go watch IronMan 2 which we DVRd last night. I’m a junkie, man, somebody stop me.
Point being, that our sitter is in Florida (who signed off on this??) because my husband’s niece had to go and graduate from college right when Ironman 3 is out so unless I bring my 4-year old…I’m SOL.
Nuts. But as soon as Grandmama’s flight lands we’re tossing her the kids and they can find their own way home from the airport. We’ll already be in line for popcorn.
Should I wear my cape and mask to the movie?
Yes, wear the cape. And compact mirrors strapped to your hands. And take pictures! 🙂
You’re probably okay to read this review—I basically said it was worth a couple of reads and maybe teased twice. And braincrushed on JARVIS. That’s it.
FIND A SITTER. And then let me know how you liked the movie.
Not a superhero person, but you sure do know how to sell a movie well.
How can you NOT be a superhero person? I’m . . . stunned.
No way will I pay to sit and watch an Ironman movie if there isn’t a lovely Scarlett Johanssen in pleather to distract me. DP and his cohorts went without me. I read a stupid mystery book that gave me nightmares. #Indyfail. (I don’t know how to use hashtags either, but I think that’s part of using hashtags.)
You’re a woman of refined tastes, my friend.
Haven’t seen IM3 yet but soon, I’d probably watch anything with RDJ in it truthfully
Have you heard of a movie called Room 237? At first I thought you were subtle referencing it when you mentioned that, ahem, certain number.
Me, too—I’ve been hooked on that man’s sheer charisma since Less Than Zero, which in retrospect was a weirdly prescient film.
You mean that documentary I haven’t seen about The Shining and what Kubrick supposedly did with/to/instead of the actual story? Nope—you’re probably giving me too much credit for cinematic sophistication, here. Or not, I guess—was it any good?
I honestly would be more likely to be referencing Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy—I wasn’t, but on second thought, I wouldn’t put it past the IM3 guys, ’cause it kind of fits.
if you have to time, let me know what you think!
I guess it was just the wording then that made me wonder….I haven’t seen it yet, going today though, report forthcoming
And Douglas Adams is the man!