Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) wrestles with inner demons while
contending with monsters of his own creation in this sequel from
writer\director Shane Black. The story in Iron Man 3 picks up shortly
after the events of The Avengers. Having previously entered another
dimension in order to save New York City, Tony remains deeply haunted by
the experience. Unable to sleep, he throws himself into his work with
such intensity that it begins to take a heavy toll on both his mental
health and his relationship with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Tony
has only started to appreciate the gravity of his problems when an
enigmatic terrorist named the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) hijacks the
airwaves and threatens to bring America to its knees with a painful
series of "lessons" that even President Ellis (William Sadler) won't be
able to ignore. When Tony's former security guard Happy Hogan (Favreau)
is badly injured in an explosion caused by one of the Mandarin's agents,
the vengeful playboy issues a public threat that results in his home
being completely destroyed in a devastating attack, leaving him to face
his enemy with only one badly damaged prototype suit. Fortunately, Tony
isn't on his own, and with the help of Col. James Rhodes (Don Cheadle)
and a young boy named Harley (Ty Simpkins), he pieces together the
mystery of the Mandarin, whose final "lesson" promises to be the most
painful of all.
