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| photo courtesy of artstechnica.com |
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW
Ant-Man and the Wasp is the 20th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the sequel to 2015’s Ant-Man, and the third film from Marvel Studios this year (following mega-blockbusters Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War). The movie picks up with Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War. During the last days of his house arrest, Scott finds himself in the company of old friends, Hope van Dyne/the Wasp (Evangline Lilly) and her father Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). Together, they try to rescue Hope’s mother, Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), from the mysterious Quantum Realm. Unfortunately for Ant-Man and the Wasp, another party—the ethereal Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen)—is interested in acquiring their Quantum Realm tech.
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| photo courtesy of popsugar.com |
After the big,
blustering events of Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp shrinks things down
to a much more manageable size. As in the original Ant-Man, the action is more contained, the scale is smaller, the
drama… not very dramatic. There are no world-ending stakes and no heavy
emotional investments required. Instead, Ant-Man
and the Wasp opts for fast, frenetic fun and a big helping of eccentric
comedy.
All the best parts of
the original Ant-Man (a widely
underrated movie) have a place in the sequel. There’s an appreciation for the
ridiculousness of the entire enterprise, which manifests in a complete lack of
self-seriousness. There’s also an emphasis on the family dynamics between the
characters, which is one of the major features that sets this corner of the MCU
apart from the rest (where romantic subplots usually get top billing).
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| photo courtesy of thewrap.com |
But Ant-Man and the Wasp almost certainly
improves on Ant-Man’s foundation. The
original movie gets mired down in a weak third act and uninspired villainy, but
Ant-Man and the Wasp is far less
formulaic (or, perhaps, it borrows the formula of a different genre). In terms
of tone, Evangeline Lilly’s Wasp brings a businesslike demeanor that agreeably complements
the overall oddball tone. And whereas Ant-Man
has its slow moments, Ant-Man and the
Wasp sticks to a brisk pace.
It’s worth pointing
out, however, that the movie lacks the finesse that has elevated some of
Marvel’s recent offerings. Many of the film’s strong qualities are nuanced by
subtle weaknesses. Ant-Man’s
signature humor struggles toward the beginning, contributing to several rougher
early sequences. The movie’s crazy pace and madcap plot feel newer, but they
also make the narrative feel scattered. And although I think it’s fair to say
that Ant-Man and the Wasp
accomplishes what it sets out to do, some fans might mistake its undemanding,
unentangled story for an unimportant one—especially in the wake of the
ultra-consequential Infinity War.
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| photo courtesy of theslanted.com |
Finally, a word about
character motivations. In at least one instance, Ant-Man and the Wasp provides a fairly uncharacteristic motivation
for one of its heroes (though, importantly, the filmmakers inherit that
particular pickle from a previous Marvel movie). The villain, too, is a victim
of misguided motivation. The movie goes to some lengths to illustrate her
sympathetic qualities, but in such a lighthearted movie, this effort is out of
place. It would have been better to simply let her be a frightening, imposing
force with minimal backstory.
FINAL VERDICT: Ant-Man and the Wasp has its
shortcomings, but its strengths are more than enough for a breezy summer
blockbuster… and another win for Marvel’s 10th anniversary year.
P.S. Fans of the
franchise will definitely want to
stick around for the credits.
TRAILER
Watch the trailer here.
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| photo courtesy of ew.com |
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