Iron Man 3 is a Shane Black movie, and this is a wonderful thing.
For those of you who don't think you know who Shane Black is, you actually do. The man was something of a superstar in the screenwriting scene of late 80's/early 90's Hollywood, scoring big with Lethal Weapon and soon becoming the highest paid writer in the industry. But his early (largely entertaining) work is nothing compared to the movie he made with Robert Downey Jr.
Back in 2005.
Written and directed by Black, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was the lifeline that eventually lead Downey Jr. to the superstar role of Tony Stark, and is a modern noir masterpiece. The film boasts wicked humor, snappy banter from actors bringing their A-game, and ingenious subversion of the genre.
Which, not coincidentally, pretty aptly describes Iron Man 3 as well