REVIEW - ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: A Hysterical Small-Scale Adventure With Colossal Plot Baggage

REVIEW - ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: A Hysterical Small-Scale Adventure With Colossal Plot Baggage

After the shocking and grim ending of Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and The Wasp is a thrilling Marvel adventure that's full of laughs, peculiar quantum science, and not much else. Minor spoilers ahead!

Review Opinion
By MattBellissimo - Jul 06, 2018 07:07 AM EST
For the second time in three years, Marvel Studios has opted for a (subatomically) smaller scale superhero film after delivering their biggest one to date. 2015 saw the release of Peyton Reed’s Ant-Man shortly after Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Reed has returned to the helm for the sequel, Ant-Man and The Wasp, in the looming despair following Avengers: Infinity War. The result is an extremely funny, action-packed film that gets weighed down with far too much plot science.

After a quick flashback prologue, the film opens with Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) in his final three days of house arrest following his violation of the Sokovia Accords in Captain America: Civil War, a rather dismissive and irresponsible decision ("Ah well, what else is new?") that flew in the face of the first film's portrait of a man eager to escape a life of crime. The film does attempt to rectify this in a way, painting Lang’s decision as a patriotic one and having the character on the cusp of starting a private security firm with his ex-con pals Luis (Michael Peña), Dave (Tip “T.I.” Harris), and Kurt (David Dastmalchian). As it turns out, Lang neglected to tell Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) about his plan to use their tech to help Cap, leading to the pair being hunted by the FBI for their indirect role in assisting the star-spangled fugitive.

As a result, the two scientists have angrily cut personal and professional ties with Lang, but all that changes when Lang has a vivid dream involving the memories of Hank's wife and Hope's mother, Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer). Soon after, he finds himself whisked away by the father and daughter duo, who believe that the dream is the key to rescuing Janet from the Quantum Realm, the subatomic space that Lang found himself trapped in during the last film. Along the way, the team is impeded by Sonny Burch (a smarmy Walton Goggins) and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), who seek to use Pym’s Quantum tech for their own personal objectives.

Image result for ant man and the wasp

Overall, Ant-Man and The Wasp is a fairly standard action comedy, which you can hardly fault Marvel Studios for after delivering their heaviest movie with Infinity War. It’s unfortunate that the film’s story gets so bogged down in scientific subplots, backstory, and mumbo jumbo; the word “quantum” is used so often that even the film makes fun of itself for it. The size-changing antics are as preposterous, hilarious and unorthodox as ever (and the ants get a lot more to do this time).

Rudd is far more funny and believable as a father-turned-bumbling superhero this time around (no doubt due to his hand in the film’s script), and Douglas maintains his grumpy, sarcastic charm as Pym. Evangeline Lilly shines as the Wasp, finally joining the super powered action after the first film left her on the sidelines for…reasons. As compensation, it seems, Lilly gets some of the most thrilling moments in the film all to herself. As for the titular team-up, Rudd and Lilly possess a great chemistry while they continue to trade sarcastic barbs with each other. Unfortunately, the shoehorned romance introduced at the end of the previous film also makes a return, which really dulls part of the dynamic between the pair, who are a lot more interesting when they are at odds with one another.

The supporting cast is far less lucky. For all the excitement of having Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet (the original Wasp), her inclusion is little more than a plot-driven cameo, and Laurence Fishburne’s role as Hank’s old S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague Bill Foster doesn’t amount to very much beyond standing around and being worried. In the villain department, Walton Goggins is a greasy, ineffective obstacle as weapons dealer Sonny Burch, and while John-Kamen’s Ghost provides for some very visually appealing fight sequences, the character ends up as an angry one-dimensional by-product of the film’s kooky quantum science. Unsurprisingly, ex-cons Luis, Dave and Kurt remain as hysterical as they were the first installment, generating some of the biggest laughs in the film.  

Ant-Man and The Wasp is a compact, lighthearted affair, which is not a bad thing as a reasonably self-contained film; recent Marvel efforts such as Black Panther and Infinity War both maintained fairly heavy tones throughout, and the Ant-Man brand has never really taken itself too seriously. The main issue here is that the film doesn’t have very much to say for itself or its characters. There are definitely brief moments where themes of parenting (good, bad, and ugly) come into play, but the film never really capitalizes on any of that, choosing instead to continue its uneven foray through several quantum hoops. There are no lessons here, and no real development; Hank is still an angry curmudgeon, Hope is still sardonic but capable, and Scott kind of learns that constantly screwing up his duties as a father is bad, but Rudd is so gosh-darn likeable that it doesn't seem to matter.  This doesn't make the film unenjoyable by any stretch, but you might find yourself wishing for more of a memorable "sting" by the time the credits roll.
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BillyBatson1000
BillyBatson1000 - 7/6/2018, 7:17 AM
Still HAVE to see it.
Kman
Kman - 7/6/2018, 7:20 AM
Well look what the Ant dragged in... wassup Matt!
Kman
Kman - 7/6/2018, 7:20 AM
It was pretty good - I would give it a solid B. I think I liked the first one a little better. Antman always has much more of a "family" theme - not as in its made for kids and families per se (although it very much was family friendly) - but the themes of the films involving Scott, Cassie, Hope, Janet, and Hank very much revolve around family and the close relationships they all have with each other and how they are affected.

I will say - the joke police are not going to be fond of this one. There were a lot - but most of them landed pretty well. I liked it a lot - but it doesn't crack my top 15.
MattBellissimo
MattBellissimo - 7/6/2018, 7:24 AM
@Kman - The embrace of comedy is so subjective that I really don't care about the complaints anymore. Humour fits in Ant-Man better than almost anywhere else...and this one was pretty damn funny.
Kman
Kman - 7/6/2018, 7:26 AM
@MattBellissimo - my audience was loving it - and Paul Rudd just has a way about him. I thought they were well done.

The truth serum stuff was good lol
bobevanz
bobevanz - 7/6/2018, 7:23 AM
I give it a 10, mostly because of de aged Michelle Pfeiffer. Schwing!
Pantherpool
Pantherpool - 7/6/2018, 7:25 AM
Saw it last night. The visuals and the action are insane and very creative. It's even funnier, sweeter and sadder than the first film. Paul Rudd plays 2 characters! Baba Yaga is canon in the MCU! Giant ants everywhere! Ghost was quite dope. What an emotional rollercoaster. Very touching. Evangeline Lilly is the GOAT. I'm seeing this again ASAP. So many things I want to reference now but I don't want to ruin anyone's experience. Just go see it; it's captivating from beginning to end.

Rating: A

MattBellissimo
MattBellissimo - 7/6/2018, 7:28 AM
@Pantherpool - Baba Yaga had me ROLLING.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/6/2018, 7:26 AM
He has returned...

The Bellissimo Lives!


MattBellissimo
MattBellissimo - 7/6/2018, 7:28 AM
@BlackBeltJones - LOL! This made me smile.
Gdub510
Gdub510 - 7/6/2018, 7:28 AM
I thought it was awesome, no complaints at all, love the flow, pretty fn funny which was great considering the (AMAZING but) heaviness of Infinity War, it's a freaking Ant Man- how Fn blessed could we be to have these movies today
Jiloco
Jiloco - 7/6/2018, 7:28 AM
Hey You Should Put Spoiler Warnings on this man!!!!!
MattBellissimo
MattBellissimo - 7/6/2018, 7:33 AM
@Jiloco - There really isn't anything major, dude, I'll include a mild spoiler warning in the description.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 7/6/2018, 7:35 AM
I liked it a lot two nights ago, planning to see it again tomorow to understand better Bill Foster’s first scene because I am sure it will play in “Avengers 4”.
KWilly
KWilly - 7/6/2018, 7:35 AM
Seeing it tonight. I expect a solid, "mind vacation" action flick.

Let's do this.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/6/2018, 7:38 AM
@KWilly - its the perfect chill out and enjoy the ride kind of movie. Its a vacation indeed.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 7/6/2018, 7:37 AM
Saw it last night and I thought it was pure fun. One of the most ACTIVE AUDIENCES I've experienced in theater. Waaaay better than the first imo, which I didn't like all that much.

The whole movie felt like a 60s Marvel comic. Wild, pulpy, sci fi fun. The visuals were great.

Ghost suffers from the overcooked plot but I loved the presence and charsima of John-Kamen. She demanded your attention when on screen.


The Luis truth serum bit is easily one of the funniest bits Ive seen in a movie in years.
IronMandarin
IronMandarin - 7/6/2018, 7:39 AM
My current ranking of all 20 MCU movies

1. Infinity War
2. Winter Soldier
3. Civil War
4. Homecoming
5. Iron man 1
6. Guardians 1
7. Ragnarok
8. Guardians 2
9. Avengers 1
10. Captain America First Avenger
11. Black Panther
12. Thor 1
13. Ant man
14. Age of Ultron
15. Dr Strange
16. Incredible Hulk
17. Ant man and the Wasp
18. Thor the Dark World
19. Iron man 2
20. Iron man 3
KnightCap
KnightCap - 7/7/2018, 9:23 AM
@IronMandarin -
1. Winter Soldier
2. Civil war
3. Avengers
4. First avenger
5. Infinity war
6. Gaurdians
7. Ant man
8. Iron man
9. Thor Ragnarok
10. Thor
11. Dr. strange
12. Age of Ultron
13. Antman 2
14. Black panther
15. Homecoming
16. Incredible hulk
17. Gaurdians 2
18. Thor dark world
19. Iron Man 2
20. Iron Man 3


(Yes my cap bias is showing)
IronMandarin
IronMandarin - 7/7/2018, 6:52 PM
@KnightCap - Well hey it's not bias considering most people would agree Cap has the best trilogy in the MCU
Kman
Kman - 7/6/2018, 7:41 AM
I wish I could talk about this more without spoiling things because this movie pretty much developed my A4 theories pretty thoroughly... and I feel like I have a good idea on how some of this will go down.

...soon enough, soon enough
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 7/6/2018, 8:16 AM
@Kman

Prolly not seeing it until Sunday at the earliest. What did you think of the movie?
Kman
Kman - 7/6/2018, 8:21 AM
@regularmovieguy - It was really good - but didn't leave a huge impression as far as my personal MCU rankings. The comedy is adbundant - BUT it is really funny and my audience was laughing a lot. New concepts for shrinking items and way to utilize were cool. There's a little too much going on with other characters I felt like and Michelle Pfeifer's role/usage wasn't as satisfying as hoped.

There is a really great scene involving Janet/Scott that I though was right in Paul Rudd's wheelhouse and thought was really funny.

Really good! Solid B. 7/10. But doesn't really crack my top 15.
regularmovieguy
regularmovieguy - 7/6/2018, 8:24 AM
@Kman

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Good stuff. I’m just hoping for a good time.
Kman
Kman - 7/6/2018, 8:26 AM
@regularmovieguy - it was very much that
SuperCat
SuperCat - 7/6/2018, 8:25 AM
Hey, Matt! Good to see you, buddy!

AgeofApocalypse
AgeofApocalypse - 7/6/2018, 9:58 AM
@SuperCat - Can always count on your dope GIF’s. Love it!
SuperCat
SuperCat - 7/6/2018, 11:12 AM
@AgeofApocalypse - Thanks, buddy :)
OmegaDaGrodd
OmegaDaGrodd - 7/6/2018, 9:03 AM
Perfect family CBM.
Negrotigre
Negrotigre - 7/6/2018, 10:09 AM
The movie wasn't very good. The action was good, as were the performances in general. The comedy was seriously forced, and the villains were lame.

5.5/10
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