Ant-Man and the Wasp - Movie Review

Ant-Man is back. Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is on house arrest following his debacle in Germany with Captain America. He is days away from getting his ankle monitor off when he has a strange dream about Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) who was the original Wasp. He reaches out to his estranged mentor, Dr. Pym (Michael Douglas) to explain the dream. Janet Van Dyne was Dr. Pym's wife and mother of Lang's love interest, Hope Van Dyne (Evangaline Lilly). The calls draws Lang back into the super hero realm, in violation of both is house arrest and the conditions of his plea agreement. The mistake could cost him twenty years in prison.

Janet Van Dyne went quantum decades ago to save a city from destruction. She was lost in the quantum realm and though to be gone forever. But Lang has provided hope that she may be still alive and trying to contact her family. With Lang's help, Pym hopes to recover his wife from the void. Unfortunately, there are obstacles. The trio must maneuver their way around stolen tech dealer Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins), a strange apparition called the Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), the FBI and their own personal baggage in order to achieve their objective. Easier said than done.

The nice thing about Ant-Man and the Wasp is that it doesn't take itself to seriously. The story interjects a lot of humor to keep the film moving. Between prop gags that seem to constantly juxtapose perspectives to crisp dialogue infused with just the right amount of snark, the writers found a nice balance. The narrative weaves in some backstory while introducing new characters and creating a nice arc. The action sequences also add a lot of tension to the story and keep the pacing sharp. The editing was well done, keeping this film just under two hours without dragging much. The story finishes with a tie-in to the broader Marvel world that will certainly please die-hard fans. The reference provides a slightly chilling end to an otherwise neatly packaged story.

Paul Rudd is great as Ant-Man. He has the right vibe for the character. Unfortunately, I don't love Lilly as The Wasp. She is decent, but not as great a choice. Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer are both veterans with closets full of awards. They are both solid choices. My favorite casting choice, however, is Michael Pena as Luis. That guy is brilliant. His comedy is a rich blend of facial expressions and delivery that have a natural flow. His presence in the story helps keep things light and engaging. If he doesn't crack you up, you need to lighten up. I also like Abby Ryder Fortson as Lang's daughter Cassie. She is charming. I don't completely dislike Lilly, but she feels a bit awkward in that role. The rest of the casting was exceptional.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is rated PG-13 by the MPAA. The film didn't have much objectionable material. There was some violence, but beyond that, the film is tame. It is a family film. There were quite a few kids in the audience when we screened it yesterday. The film is lighter than some of the other Marvel stories, so it feels a bit more kid-oriented than the others. It was fun. I don't think I would restrict this film by age. The film has a one hour, 58 minute run time.

Ant-Man and the Wasp isn't serious drama. If you are looking for a hard-core story, this isn't it. It is a fairly linear plot with numerous diversions. That kind of story is okay when it is well done. In this case, it is. The sharp dialogue, especially whenever Pena is on screen, adds flavor to the film. A heartbeat. Lang also has some good dialogue. I like his delivery, which makes his character just a touch juvenile. The special effects were solid, mostly built around shrinking and enlarging things. But sight gags can be funny when delivered well. The story fits into the broader Marvel Universe, tying together the other story lines and setting up the next Avengers film. But that is accomplished with just a short bit of film. The rest of the story is not a set up. It stands on its own. 8/10.

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