MCU: 10 Things You Learn Rewatching Iron Man 3

7. This Might Be Downey Jr.'s Best Iron Man Performance

Tony Stark Iron Man 3
Marvel Studios

When it comes to the MCU, not many have been able to embody their role as brilliantly as Robert Downey Jr. has. He just is Tony Stark, and while he was incredible in Captain America: Civil War, he may have conjured his best performance for Iron Man 3.

To Civil War's credit Stark did feature as a part of an ensemble, so it makes sense that Iron Man 3 gives the character more to do. It's his film after all, and in portraying a Tony at the end of his tether, suffering from the after-effects of his run-in with the Chitauri, Downey Jr. is given a license to explore the character fully. You truly get the sense that this is a man in need of urgent help, confiding in his machines instead of turning to his friends, and when it all boils over it looks real.

Iron Man 3 deals with a whole bunch of hefty themes, whether it be the War on Terror, the Military Industrial Complex or something else. The most pressing ones, however, are also the most personal; anxiety, depression and even PTSD are all broached, and in grounding Marvel's most larger than life character, Iron Man 3 finds real salience.

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Content Producer/Presenter
Content Producer/Presenter

Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.