Source: comicbook.com
4. It Justifies its Conflict
I really don’t like having to constantly go back and address That Other Movie, but I feel it’s important to draw parallels between the two, to show why this one works and that one didn’t.
Here, the conflict is motivated by completely believable forces. Tony has wanted to put the Avengers in check with a higher authority as part of his arc since IM3, whereas Steve is still riding high on the I don’t trust big brother kick from TWS.
This creates a natural, and justified, rift. And after the end-movie reveal of who killed the Starks, (no, it wasn’t the Lannisters) the Steve/Tony conflict becomes much more emotional and intense.
Tony’s actions may be irrational, but they make sense from the perspective of what he’s going through at the moment.
It’s ok to have a character act dumb SOMETIMES, especially under extreme emotional duress, but when they act like a total meatheaded idiot all the time to justify the plot, then you’re in That Other Movie territory.
