The first half of Iron Man 1 was great: it captured the essence of the Marvel character and used Robert Downey's great comic timing to make what could be a dull, corporate scientist-type into a charismatic, endearing hero. Once Downey put on the armour, there was a sense that film-makers didn't really know what to do with him. So they pitted him against Jeff Bridges' bigger Iron Monger suit and there was an enjoyable scrap.

Iron Man 2 stank. They clearly didn't know what to do with it. Moving on...

Iron Man 3 gives the impression that - apart from Robert Downey - the script writers still don't know what to do with the concept of Iron Man. So what we get is more Downey: Downey drunk in the past, Downey having anxiety attacks, Downey having relationship issues, Downey playing straight-man to comedy computer voice, Downey bonding with cute kid-sidekick, Downey celebrating Christmas... and it goes on. I was waiting for comedy scene with animal but, thankfully, the writers didn't sink that low. At the end of the film, once all the shrapnel has been removed from Stark's heart, Downey is able to say: "I am Iron Man" and, perhaps, this is an excuse why most of the film has been notable by an absence of Iron Man. Yes, there's lots of armour (Stark's onto mark-43) but it only gets shown off for the final action sequence. Mostly, the film is Downey playing Downey.

Supposedly this film is based on the Extremis story arc: the Warren Ellis "reboot" of Iron Man - would have made a great film if it had actually been used. Instead, it's used to create an army of cartoony villains who only provide a physical challenge to Iron Man (even spitting fire at one point). The powers that the Extremis-infected characters have (burning hot and regenerating limbs) are a bit wooly. Also, I came away not really understanding what A.I.M.'s aim actually was. Was it to enable the vice-president to become president? Were they a mercenary organisation? Also, was this film originally scheduled for release in December? There were more Christmas references in this movie than Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Why couldn't we have just had the Mandarin as a crazy character who'd discovered gems giving him powers (like the cosmic cube or infinity gems) that blurred science and sorcery. We could have had a Doctor Strange cameo at the end! No, Mandarin is a crummy, hippy actor from Croydon.

Iron Man in the comics is a character like so many - Hulk being the most notable - who are better suited to teams. Downey's Iron Man was much better playing off his team-mates in The Avengers movie than attempting to carry off two hours screen time on his own. As I was sitting in the cinema watching the movie I kept thinking: why doesn't Stark call Steve Rogers or Nick Fury? The entire premise of going up against a terrorist outfit (ok, A.I.M.) would have been so much better with Cap and Thor - I'd have even settled for a Hawkeye team-up. The actual team-up we get with Rhodey is out of suits and, when Rhodey gets into his Iron Patriot armour again, flies off to leave Stark alone fighting the baddies.

There were some fun moments in the movie - but less than I remember Iron Man 1 having. There was only one laugh made by the audience in the cinema I saw the film in: a line delivered by a henchman who was on the screen for less than 10 seconds. A slimline fan edit - removing lots of the awful comedy moments (like the cute kid and the tv technician) - might make this a better movie.

Too dull for most of its running time. Let's hope Iron Man gets a better outing in Guardians of the Galaxy (if he's in it) or the next Avengers.

Score = ★★★✩✩