Tony's experience has shaken him up to the core. He's no longer the same man he used to be when he gets back to America. After reuniting with Pepper and Happy Hogan, Tony declines the former's idea of going to the hospital for his injuries and instead asks for two things:
Tony: There are two things I want to do. I want an American
cheeseburger, and the other...
Pepper: That's enough of that.
Tony: ...is not what you think. I want you to call for a press
conference now.
After getting his Burger King
product placement cheeseburger, Tony heads to the press conference where Stane
meets him with outstretched arms. At the
conference Pepper is approached by agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) of the Strategic Homeland Intervention
Enforcement and Logistics Division (a name they’re working on
abbreviating…well, until that’s retconned in Captain Marvel),
asking if they can set up a date for debriefing Tony on his escape. Tony plays upon his injuries and asks the
press nicely if they can all sit down, only to stand up high above everyone
when delivering his speech's kicker—giving more weight and impact to the declaration; “I saw young
Americans killed by the very weapons I created to defend them and protect them.
And I saw that I had become part of a system that is comfortable with zero
accountability…I had my eyes opened. I came to realize that I have more to
offer this world than just making things that blow up. And that is why, effective
immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark
International until such a time as I can decide what the future of the company
will be.”
The speech showcases the change in
Tony’s character, but his mannerisms and use of dramatics also showcase
that despite being humbled from his experience, Tony still has some self-important egotism inside—shifting itself into a different, albeit more helpful, form of
narcissism. Stane is naturally upset at
Tony's spontaneous announcement (with Stark Industries being a weapons
manufacturer and their stock markets guaranteed to drop like an
anvil) yet remains quite calm and composed when discussing it with him, acting
as one may expect from an experience, level-headed businessman. Despite the subtle bad guy tropes Stane
showcases—a big cigar in hand and a name drop of his comic book alias Iron
Monger—he, nonetheless, comes across as a genuine, trustworthy friend and mentor to Tony. It's Jeff Bridges' performance that does the trick, underplaying Stane's villainous side with a mellow, easygoing
personality (almost like a more ambitious, businessman version of The Dude). Tony apologizes for not informing Stane
beforehand of his decision but stands by what he said—suggesting the company take
another look into Arc Reactor technology. Stane considers the Arc Reactor idea, telling
Tony to lay low for a while as he tries to fix the messy situation.
An aspect Iron Man really does well is building upon characterization while also
developing the story. There’s a really touching scene between Tony
and Pepper that fleshes out their relationship while also progressing and establishing
a few plot points. In the scene, Tony asks
Pepper and her “petite” hands to replace his “antique” Arc Reactor for an
upgraded one he built due to a “snag” that's shorting out the magnet
protecting his heart. In typical Tony
fashion, his use of dialogue and attitude is completely calm and nonchalant
towards the life-threatening situation, comparing the switch to a game of
Operation. The scene is adorably
hilarious as a rattled Pepper switches between a state of panic to being grossed
out as touches the plasma within Tony’s chest hole. The scene showcases the trust Tony has for
Pepper to ask her to perform such a serious task, and to continue such trust
even when she accidentally pulls out the magnet keeping the shrapnel in
place—Tony matter-of-fact noting how he’s going into cardiac arrest while a
freaked out Pepper tries her best to comfort Tony:
Tony: You gotta switch it out
really quick.
Pepper: Okay. Okay. Tony? It's going to be okay.
Tony: What? Is it?
Pepper: It's gonna be okay. I'm gonna make this okay.
Tony: Let's hope. Okay, you're gonna attach that to the base plate.
Make sure you...YEAHHHHAWWWas that so hard? That was fun, right? Here, I got
it. I got it. Here. Nice.
Pepper: Are you okay?
Tony: Yeah, I feel great. You okay?
Pepper: Don't ever, ever, ever, ever ask me to do anything like
that ever again.
Tony: I don't have anyone but you…
Tony informs Pepper to throw out
the old Arc Reactor, yet she instead frames it for him—giving it the engraving: Proof That Tony Stark Has a Heart.
LINK TO PART 5: How Two Pizza Slices Make Iron Monger One of the MCU’s Best Antagonists
LINK TO PART 5: How Two Pizza Slices Make Iron Monger One of the MCU’s Best Antagonists
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