By: Sari Cohen | HFLF Contributor
Disclaimer: SPOILERS! Proceed at your own risk!
Does size matter? In this case, yes it does. In the third and final MCU film that fans will get to see in 2018, “Ant-Man and the Wasp” brings some lighthearted fun back to the screen. While 2015’s “Ant-Man” didn’t exactly win at the box office, it did win over fans, which has brought about a delightful anticipation for the sequel.
Director Peyton Reed is back to lead the team on a mission that explores the realm of quantum mechanics and is fueled by the power of love. Paul Rudd reprises his role as Scott Lang (aka Ant-Man), bringing some of his special wit to the table. It’s an endearing match to his counterpart, the striking Evangeline Lilly. Lilly partners with Rudd as “the Wasp,” officially making her the very first female superhero in the MCU to get her name in the title of the movie.
Michael Douglas is back as Dr. Hank Pym. Judy Greer, and Bobby Cannavale return as Maggie Lang and Paxton, respectively. Abby Ryder Fortson returns as Rudd’s daughter, Cassie. Michael Peña (Luis), Tip “T.I.” Harris (Dave) and David Dastmalchian (Kurt) are all back on team Ant-Man. Joining the cast is Walton Goggins (Sonny Burch), Divian Ladwa (Uzman), Randall Park (Jimmy Woo), Laurence Fishburne (Dr. Bill Foster), Michelle Pfeiffer (Janet Van Dyne/the original Wasp) and Hannah John-Kamen (Ava/Ghost).
Rudd also returns as one of the writers, making it apparent from the get-go that you’re about to witness two hours of a “Role Models”-style comedy meshed with the magic of the Marvel Universe. Unlike the other Marvel movies of 2018, “Ant-Man and the Wasp” relies heavily on its humor and the feel-good flavor it adds to the franchise.
The film picks up sometime after “Captain America: Civil War.” Lang, who is now on house arrest and awaiting his impending freedom, reconnects with Dr. Pym and embarks on a larger-than-life mission in order to save Pym’s wife (Pfeiffer) from the “quantum realm.” As the team assembles (shrinking office building made travel size in tow) we soon meet our new antihero, Ghost. While she does serve as the film’s antagonist, we eventually learn that her motives, even though they’re opposite of our heroes’, are just as honorable and urgent. Although she’s mostly warring with the good guys here, she adds some really cool abilities to the mix, making her a fun addition to this growing superhero family.
Shrinking cars, giant insects and portable buildings aside, the plot managed to uphold the typical Marvel formula, while keeping things light on-screen. Although big-budget special effects weren’t exactly this movie’s draw, certain scenes and fight sequences added just the right amount of intensity that action-lovers desire. On top of that, the movie actually tapped into some very real theories in quantum physics. Rudd’s joke in the film about putting the word “quantum” in front of everything may get a laugh, but if you pay attention, you’ll also get a science lesson.
As interesting as all that is, school is out for summer, which means everyone is looking to have a little fun. Thankfully, that’s just what the movie provides. As with most of Rudd’s on-screen appearances, it’s his comedic style and the chemistry with his co-stars that make you not want to take your eyes off of him, and this film is no different than his others in that regard. His relationship with both Dr. Pym and Hope Van Dyne (aka the Wasp), while layered with some resentment, is mostly entertaining and really quite sweet. Fishburne’s character (Dr. Bill Foster) and Ghost; their connection leaves a bit more to understand but is still loving at its best. The character of Jimmy Woo (the policeman in charge of Ant-Man’s case) may be the stereotypical comic relief, but because the whole movie is laden with jokes, Park’s portrayal only adds to what already exists. Meanwhile, Luis (Peña) and the rest of the “X-Con Security” team are all pleasantly positioned to bring some unconventional humor to the screen, upping their own superhero status in the process.
There are many clichés one could use to best summarize what this film encompasses. Good things come in small packages; one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind; there are no small parts, only small actors. Hundreds of “Alice in Wonderland” references flood the mind alone. While they all fit, like a Marvel movie itself, each one makes up only a tiny fraction of a much larger story.
Watch our premiere coverage below!
