It’s a very hot summer in Arizona, and I am thankful for so many movies that I want to watch so that I can enjoy the cool, dark environment of a movie theater. Luckily, there are many movies coming out that I want to go and check out. While I love the more dramatic fare that is offered, I was looking forward to the lighter mood that Ant-Man and the Wasp promised to offer. Something to lift the spirits after being on social media and the real world. Something more bite-sized, if you will. Marvel’s latest fit that need perfectly. Get the complete rundown in my Ant-Man and the Wasp review.
Taking place after the events of Captain America: Civil War, but before Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp finds Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) under house arrest and having to entertain his young daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson), who may eventually become a member of the Young Avengers movie Marvel has been teasing. Lang is days away from completing the terms of his house arrest, so of course, things go sideways.
Scott has a dream in which he’s in the Quantum Realm and sees the original Wasp, Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer). Upon waking up, he calls Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) who he hasn’t talked to in years, partially due to the conditions of his plea agreement, as well as a rift created after taking the Ant-Man suit to join Team Cap in Civil War. Scott is taken by Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) to meet up with Pym because the dream Scott had occurred at the same time as Hope and Pym had opened a tunnel into the Quantum Realm in an effort to find Janet.
The hope is that they can use the connection Scott seems to have in order to track Janet down and rescue her. These events are watched by Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), who has her own interests in finding Janet in the Quantum Realm. In a race against the clock to find Janet before the Quantum Realm shifts, Scott, Hope, and Pym enlist the aid of Dr. Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne), the original Goliath. Working to gain Pym’s tech for himself is Sonny Burch (Walter Goggins), and trying to keep tabs on Scott is FBI Special Agent, Jimmy Woo (Randall Park).
Ant-Man and the Wasp is well-paced, leading from one action sequence to another, with just enough time in between to catch your breath. The CGI is impressive and beautifully rendered. The viewing that I saw was in 2D, but I am interested to see it in 3D, just for the Quantum Realm scenes. The cinematography was done well, but it is not notable, other than the previously mentioned effects. The view of things from the perspectives of the miniaturized Ant-Man and Wasp are also fun to watch.
There’s a great deal of exposition filling us in on the events between the end of the first Ant-Man, and Scott’s participation in Civil War, but it all flows very well, and never feels like we’re just being explained to. Abby Ryder Fortson does a fantastic turn as Scott’s daughter, Cassie. It isn’t just Fortson who turns in a nuanced performance, Hannah John-Kamen, as Ava/Ghost, is another in the line of sympathetic villains. In addition, the way John-Kamen is able to express her anguish, torment, and fear of death with her facial expressions is very moving. Paul Rudd continues to impress with his comedic timing, and he shows some versatility in a mid-point scene which is both moving and funny at the same time. Of course, Michael Peña continues stealing scenes and being a joy to watch in his reprisal of the role of Luis, having some of the funniest bits in the film.
To top things off, Ant-Man and the Wasp is an expectedly funny film! From the various situations to the action, to the actors themselves, it is a well-done piece of action and humor that many have come to expect from Marvel films. It’s also a well-needed bit of comic relief after the emotional punishment that Infinity War dealt. Marvel has been improving the comedic elements in their movies, not letting the humor overshadow the emotions that also come through from these stories. They also haven’t forgotten that these are comic book movies, and they are based on some pretty absurd and outlandish premises. I thought this film was well balanced in character development, while still being a light, fun entry into the Marvel timeline, and a good setup for the events to come in Avengers 4, as well as the rumored Young Avengers film. Definitely check it out during the holiday weekend!
About Ant-Man and the Wasp
Synopsis: As Scott Lang balances being both a Super Hero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.
Director: Peyton Reed
Writers: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari
Stars: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, Hannah John-Kamen, Walton Goggins, and Michael Douglas
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 1 Hour, 58 Minutes
Eric is a bit of many things: pirate, photographer, geek, biker, gamer, jewelry maker and master of bad puns. He has worked for Phoenix Comicon every year from 2007 to 2016 and was been a part of the Arizona Renaissance Festival from 2009 to 2013, which is where he picked up the Bald Pirate name. He also chuckles a lot when referring to himself in the third person.
