For over fifty years, Marvel Comics has established itself as the "House of Ideas", creating such characters as the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Spider-Man and the X-Men. Specifically, there is one particular hero who has struggled to find an audience as a headling comic book character- the aptly-named Ant-Man. Now, he is about to gain an audience on a much wider scale.
Directed by Peyton Reed, ''Ant-Man'' is the twelfth film released as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Rather than a traditional superhero origin story, the plot serves as a passing-of-the-torch between two men in search of redemption. It also has the elements of a heist thriller not dissimilar to ''Ocean's Eleven''. At just under two hours, the film is a brisk action-adventure with a good combination of drama, tension and humor.
Ex-con Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) can't seem to get a break. Upon being released from prison, he is enticed by his friend and former partner-in-crime Luis (Michael Pena) to help with an upcoming robbery, but he refuses to return to crime, citing a responsibility to his family. However, he learns his ex-wife Maggie (Judy Greer) has married a cop named Paxton (Bobby Canavale), and she wants him to start paying child support before coming near their daughter Cassie. Despite his good intentions, Scott tries to find legitimate work, but he loses his job at Baskin Robbins after a background check uncovers his blighted past.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) learns that his former protege and business partner Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) is developing a new combat suit for the military that he calls "the Yellowjacket." Hank is especially troubled about the project, because Cross has taken over his company Pym Technologies and is seeking control of a substance called the Pym Particle that allows subjects to shrink and grow. Unknown to many people, Hank served as the costumed adventurer known as Ant-Man from the 1960s to the 1980s, after which he retired following a tragic accident. He also has a strained relationship with his daughter Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), who helped Cross remove him from the company.
Scott returns to Luis and agrees to take part in the robbery. Aided by fellow thieves Dave (T.I. Harris) and Kurt (David Dastmalchian), he breaks into an old-fashioned house in San Francisco, but he is disappointed with only managing to take a leather jumpsuit and helmet. Soon, he discovers wearing the suit gives him the power to shrink to insect proportions. Scott tries to put it back but gets caught by police in the process. Back in jail, he is visited by Hank and receives instructions on how to use the suit. With the older man's help, Scott escapes prison and returns to Hank, who reveals he arranged the break-in as a sort of test.
Paul Rudd plays Scott with a likeable, charming personality not unlike his past body of work. He has well intetions and wants to do the right thing, but his immoral nature and habit of falling back into old habits shows how hard change can be. As a comedic actor, he might seem an odd choice to play an action star, but he demonstrates a sense of physicality to the role. Rudd's natural chemistry with the cast is apparent, showing a keen sense of timing.
Michael Douglas succeeds in playing Hank as a intelligent yet complex individual. Although he might seem cantankerous, cynical and secretive at times, the actor manages to provide the character with a feeling of depth. Hank is haunted by the tragic fate of his wife, but he has difficulty connecting with his daughter. Furthermore, he also distrusts superheroes and government figures with handling his creations, which explains why he won't call Iron Man or the Avengers for help.
Evangeline Lilly brings a strong-willed assertiveness and vulnerability. Having removed Hank from his own company, she wants to do the right thing. While she loves her father, she is deeply conflicted over her mother's fate and struggles for answers about the truth. Hope is clearly the right person for the job of Ant-Man, but she is frustrated about her father's refusal to let her do so. Her interactions with Rudd and Douglas are among the film's best scenes.
Corey Stoll has an interesting role as Darren Cross, but the final product leaves one wishing more could have been done with the character. Early on, it is established that he is deeply insecure and troubled over his desire to be better than Hank Pym, but there is no deeper motivation to justify his larger actions. Nor do we get much exploration of his personality. In the third act, there is a mention of exposure to chemicals possibly affecting his brain, yet this is never explored or discussed in detail. Despite being a pupil and partner to Hank, Cross desires to be his own man and embrace the future of tehcnology. Ultimately, he comes off as a pathetic, almost needy version of Obadiah Stane.
The supporting cast is another gem of the movie. Pena steals the show as Luis and provides comic relief in his fast-talking, long-winded monologues about people he is acquainted with. Harris and Dastmalchian provide a natural source of camraderie in their scenes with Rudd and Pena. Anthony Mackie has a surprise suppoting role as Sam Wilson/The Falcon, and his confrontation with Ant-Man is one of the film's highlights. Hayley Atwell makes a cameo appearance as Peggy Carter, and former ''Mad Men'' actor John Slattery returns as the sarcastic inventor and S.H.I.E.L.D co-founder Howard Stark in a scene set in 1989.
Reed's direction shows his capability of handling big-budget films. With Russell Carpenter's cinematography and the score of Christophe Beck, the movie has a stylized, fast-paced feel similar to Steve Soderbergh's ''Ocean's Eleven'' trilogy and Jon Favreau's ''Iron Man''. The film does not overdo its use of humor, because it manages to balance with the dramatic elements of the real-world stakes. It is also notable for a smaller scale in terms of scope and avoiding formulaic battles of past Marvel installments. As opposted to the raising of Slovokia in ''Avengers: Age of Ultron'', the climax of the movie takes place in Cassie's bedroom, which is both awe-inspiring and hilarious- depending on how it is perceived.
''Ant-Man'' is a solid movie that ranks among the MCU's best installments to date, effectively proving that size does not matter. Rudd, Douglas and Lilly deliver great performances. Peyton Reed's direction shows he is a talented director. This is one of the year's finest films.
The next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe brings a founding member of The Avengers to the big screen for the first time with Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man.” Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Marvel’s “Ant-Man” stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne, Corey Stoll as Darren Cross aka Yellowjacket, Bobby Cannavale as Paxton, Michael Peña as Luis, Tip “T.I.” Harris as Dave, Wood Harris as Gale, Judy Greer as Maggie, David Dastmalchian as Kurt, and Michael Douglas as Dr. Hank Pym.
Peyton Reed directs Marvel’s “Ant-Man” with Kevin Feige, p.g.a. producing and Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo, Stan Lee and Edgar Wright serving as executive producers. The story is by Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish and the screenplay is by Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish and Adam McKay & Paul Rudd. Marvel’s “Ant-Man” opens in theaters on July 17, 2015.