The most surprising thing about "Iron Man 3" — which is otherwise pretty much what you'd expect, in spades — is its unanticipated sense of finality. The movie plays out like the concluding installment of a standard trilogy, with the story winding down into tidy resolution. The obligatory post-credits scene, in which another sequel is traditionally teased, here teases nothing so specific. Is a retrospective box set already in the works?

Maybe not. Although irreplaceable star Robert Downey Jr.'s franchise contract reportedly ended with this film, the forces of commerce may prove overwhelming. The first two "Iron Man" movies grossed more than $1.5 billion...