Marvel’s latest film Ant-Man is unlike the studio’s other superhero films, and that’s a good thing. Its cast, comedy, fight scenes and final message make it a worthwhile summer blockbuster.
The latest Marvel Studios film is not like the others, and that’s a good thing.
Premiering two months after The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man closed out the second phase of the three-phase plan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is the 12th film of the franchise and is only one of two that does not feature The Avengers team. It provided the needed breath of fresh air Guardians of the Galaxy gave everyone this past summer.
Marvel has essentially worn out its welcome with its never-ending, 20-year spanding, interlocking film plan. Viewers will continue to watch to see how it ends, but it doesn’t mean they will be happy while doing it.
But Ant-Man and Guardians are in a different league. Guardians is still largely tied to The Avengers and the overarching plot with the Infinity Stones and Thanos, but Ant-Man only makes a few jokes about the team. One member even shows up for a delightful cameo.
Ant-Man is about the titular lesser known Marvel hero. As he is less popular, the film takes a deserving amount of time to explain the protagonist’s origin. In the 20th century, scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) created shrinking technology and a suit to enable the Ant-Man figure. He shrinks to the size of ant and can communicate telepathically with them all while maintaining the same strength and speed of a full-size human, making his impact comparable to a bullet. Following in suit of the comics, Pym encourages Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) to assume the role of Ant-Man. Lang, a Robin Hood-esque cyber thief, is at first hesitant but ultimately takes over the duty to help Pym and his daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) stop Pym’s former protege Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) from using the technology with his Yellowjacket suit.
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Many might guffaw at the very idea of Ant-Man. It’s true that the idea is a bit of stretch in comparison to some of other Marvel’s great heroes, but the film still makes for an action-packed adventure.
The story is an origin plot, which means it comes with its problems of trying to explain an entire new character and histories while still moving forward. Ant-Man stumbles, but it certainly doesn’t fall.
Rudd is his usual charming Rudd self as Scott. It’s impossible not to like him. His wit is perfectly in tune to Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, though decidedly less annoying, for this is his first go-around and not Rudd’s fifth as a character.
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And no one should argue about getting to see him shape up for the role…
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The film’s second star is Lilly. In the comics, Hope Pym is Red Queen and her mother, Janet van Dyne, was The Wasp. With Lilly’s short stylized bob haircut in the film, many thought Hope would be The Wasp, a character who is integral in forming The Avengers in the comics. But more on Lilly’s wonderful performance and possible future later.
Stoll was expertly cast as the bald villain. His presence is menacing from the start. In addition to its great villain, the film also has an outstanding supporting comedic cast with Michael Peña, rapper T.I. — yes, that’s right — and David Dastmalchian. Peña is the breakout star and scene-stealer of the film. His one-liners, overwhelmingly positive attitude and tendency to tell long-winded narratives makes him an audience favorite.
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Another supporting character to note is Scott’s trusty steed, Antony. The perfect pun. An odd affection for Antony somehow builds up throughout the movie to the point where one scene proves to be absolutely heartbreaking. It’s a fate that is unforgivable. Prepare for the pain.
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Though the character of Ant-Man is small, the film’s action is not. Ant-Man actually pokes fun at the large scale destruction that often occurs in superhero films (looking at you, Man of Steel) by placing its big, climactic fights in small settings. Instead of leveling an entire city, Ant-Man and Yellowjacket destroy a train table and part of one home. The fights’ impact is limited but they feel just the same as when Iron Man and The Hulk tear up a city in Age of Ultron. The view is proportional to the size of the characters, so the typically finger-long Thomas the Tank Engine seems like a full size train. The destruction of the scale model of the Pym Technologies building feels as if they are truly blowing up the real-life structure.
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Mass destruction of a city and its population doesn’t make for good action and filmmaking. Ant-Man proves that it is an unnecessary component of superhero films.
Though the film is titled “Ant-Man” and Rudd and Douglas get a significant amount of screen time, Ant-Man can also be considered an origin story for another character: Hope.
Spoilers ahead!
The film parallels Scott’s journey to renew his relationship with his young daughter Cassie, adorably played by Abby Ryder Fortson, with Hank and Hope’s tumultuous relationship.
For most of her life, Hope has held a grudge against her father for not revealing the true nature of her mother Janet’s death. Finally, Hank reveals that Janet is actually lost in the quantum realm after shrinking to a subatomic size to stop a Soviet missile.
Because of Janet’s horrible fate, Hank refuses to allow Hope to dawn the suit and perform the mission, even if she is a better fighter and more trained. This reason isn’t entirely implausible. Scott perfectly states the point that he’s “expendable” and Hope isn’t in Hank’s eyes. That’s why Hank sought him out. It does make sense.
After a successful mission and father-daughter healing, the famed Marvel post-credits scene reveals a new future for Hope. Hank shows her a prototype of a new Wasp suit. She responds, “It’s about damn time.” Sure is, Hope.
It’s very easy to take this conclusion as a result of the pushback Marvel has received for its lack of female superhero-fronted films.
It’s also exciting to think this could be a set up for continuing Hope’s storyline and introducing The Wasp into The Avengers films. Captain America: Civil War is coming up and the second post-credits scene hints at Ant-Man’s involvement in the upcoming installment. However, did a Batman or Captain America origin story take the entire film to get the character into his suit? No. Maybe it’s the fate of being a woman in the superhero world. Maybe it’s everyone getting their hopes up that Hope’s strength and prominence will live on. Maybe we’re all about to luck out on another addition to Marvel’s third phase.
Rating: 4/5
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