©Marvel Studios/Disney 2018
Ant-Man and the Wasp continue the story of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), an everyday man who can shrink down to a minuscule size using his super-powered suit. The sequel picks up following the events of Captain America: Civil War. Scott has been under house arrest coming on two years, with his freedom just a few short days away. Meanwhile, esteemed scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) work towards an invention that could save a long-lost family member. Using the powers of a new super suit, Hope takes on the alter-ego of the Wasp, kicking butt and taking names. A turn of events forces Scott back into the action, and the ensuing adventure is a small-scale story that entertains and pleases for the most part.
In comparison to recent Marvel films like Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a much more self-contained story. Many fans hoped that this movie would shed light on Ant-Man’s activities during I, in which both he and the character Hawkeye were noticeably absent. While the film eventually gives us an idea of their role in the bigger story, for the most part, it tells its own story without delving too deep into the overarching Marvel narrative. To its credit, the story is compelling enough to keep you interested and revolves heavily around the themes of family, past transgressions, and fighting for the greater good.
The story does a great job fleshing out the characters of Scott, Hope, Hank Pym, and several other secondary characters within the universe. At its worst, one could argue that Ant-Man and the Wasp is a bit boring. However, I think the film establishes a deep enough emotional connection to the characters that the extensive amount of dialogue and lack of action is forgivable. Although there are still some crazy inventive action scenes and some truly awesome fight choreography, the film feels much more grounded than most of its peers. This is great, as both Ant-Man and the Wasp feel more like everyday people then bigger than life superheroes. This makes the story feel more relatable and human than other Marvel films, managing to draw out a decent amount of connection between the audience the characters.
Considering the fact that Ant-Man and the Wasp is a pretty character-rich story, I was happily surprised by the performances from the cast as a whole. Paul Rudd does a great job humanizing the character of Ant-Man, and his on-screen relationship with child actor Abby Fortson (who plays his daughter, Cassie) reinforces his fatherly charm. Although the villains’ motives are a bit underdeveloped, I rather enjoyed Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost and Walton Goggins as the slimy black market dealer Sonny. Ultimately these villains serve as little more than a roadblock for Ant-Man and company, but their stories are interesting enough to keep you engaged. I also greatly enjoyed Michael Pena who reprises his role of Louis, the fast-talking but bumbling ex-con.
Ultimately, Ant-Man and the Wasp is an arguably slow-paced and human story, despite the wild superpowers involved. It occasionally struggles with its tone, flip-flopping between familial drama and comedy. Unfortunately, most of the jokes fell a bit flat for me, but the lighthearted and humorous tone was appreciated. As a follow-up to Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a great palette cleanser to bring us back to the more jovial feeling of Marvel films. It doesn’t succeed across the board, but it does manage to form a good mixture of action, relatable characters, and a compelling story. Marvel Cinematic Universe veterans will want to stay for at least the mid-credits scene, as it’s more of a true ending to the film than an additional scene. Overall, if you consider yourself a fan of the Marvel Universe or the character of Ant-Man, this is a pretty decent sequel that propels the overarching narrative forward without sacrificing its own story.
[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_rTIAOohas”]
Movie Rating: 3 stars.
Movie Rating Guide
1 Star = Unwatchable
2 Stars = Cannot Recommend
3 Stars = Great for the Fans
4 Stars = A Solid Movie
5 Stars = Must Own (DVD/Stream Download)
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