Despite boasting a fantastic cast, the Ant-Man franchise has never quite managed to entirely find its footing in the MCU. The first movie remains the best one (likely because it had so many of Edgar Wright’s ideas in there) with thief Scott Lang’s discovery of his newfound abilities a genuine delight to watch unfold. We welcomed the sequel throwing The Wasp into the mix, but aside from some entertaining ideas and a handful of standout moments, it was a largely forgettable affair. In the case of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, the series heads down a sci-fi route with mixed results, and perhaps its biggest issue is the technology used to bring the Quantum Realm to life.
Outside of an incredibly brief opening in San Francisco (which sees only one fan-favourite supporting character make a dialogue-free cameo appearance) and an ending which was only shot a few weeks ago, the threequel was clearly filmed entirely in studio in front of The Volume and blue screens. Now, the backgrounds do look very nice, but that’s really all they are. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has every right to be a visually stunning masterpiece, but instead feels oddly soulless as the only real thing in most of the scenes is the actors and a handful of props. An argument could be made that this was the only way to create somewhere as bonkers as the Quantum Realm, but the endless stream of bright colours soon look increasingly dull.
While the movie would have benefitted greatly from another 10 or 15 minutes back on Earth, we’re quickly thrust into the Quantum Realm where we meet all manner of bizarre new characters. You’re unlikely to remember them beyond this outing, but that’s okay, because it’s when our heroes find themselves pitted against Kang the Conqueror that Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania becomes a movie you won’t be able to pull your eyes from.
Marvel Studios has yet to fully define the rules of the Multiverse or how Kang’s journey will or won’t echo that of his comic book counterpart (is every Kang we meet just a Variant or is there a Prime Kang who we’re crossing paths with at different stages in his life?). There are some exciting hints about what’s to come, though, and the time we spend with the Conqueror makes it apparent the MCU now has a new big bad even more formidable than Thanos. Just like in Loki’s season finale, Jonathan Majors is absolutely outstanding, and it often feels like he deserves a better movie to showcase his talents in. Ironically, it’s the villain who saves the day, and as much as we appreciate this crack at making the Ant-Man movies more than a palette cleanser, the series loses some of its charm, as a result. Marvel Studios has given Peyton Reed three chances now and he clearly can’t quite figure out this franchise, so if we do get an Ant-Man 4 - and we’d like to think we will - it’s time to move on.
Jeff Loveness’ screenplay is very Rick and Morty-inspired (perhaps too much) but cuts corners and sometimes sacrifices strong storytelling for convenience. Despite that, there are some solid gags, a very powerful arc for Scott Lang as he does whatever it takes to save his daughter, and some wonderful material for Michelle Pfeifer to sink her teeth into as Janet Van Dyne (even if Marvel Studios appears to have forgotten those new Quantum powers she had at the end of the last movie).
While Majors is the standout, you should know by now that we have nothing bad to say about Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Douglas, and it’s never anything less than a joy to watch them interact on screen. It’s too soon to judge Kathryn Newton as Cassie, but with stronger material, we think she could soar in the MCU. As for M.O.D.O.K., we won’t get into too much detail here for fear of spoilers, but he’s a fun addition spoiled by a CG face that is a rare misstep for a studio that usually delivers flawless visuals.
Marvel Studios’ episodic approach to storytelling, particularly in the Multiverse Saga, occasionally makes Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantuamania feel like just another story in the wider MCU. However, this movie promises to be a massively important part of what's on the horizon and something tells us that, once this Saga ends and we know more about Kang, it will only improve with future viewings.
Far from the worst MCU movie, there are times when Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is actually a bold, brilliant blockbuster that you’ll find yourself fully engrossed in. Scott Lang has hit the big time, and this story is often a showcase for what makes Ant-Man great. Rudd really gives it his all, particularly bouncing off Majors, and it would be wrong to say this trip into the Quantum Realm isn’t a mostly enjoyable one even if the direction lets it down at times. Still, we can’t help but wish for a return to the simpler days of Scott pulling off a heist on the back of an ant...
Despite being an example of why a movie shouldn’t be shot almost entirely in The Volume, every time Jonathan Majors steps on screen as Kang, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is an epic tale to astonish and a monumental chapter in the Multiverse Saga.