My frustrations with
the original Ant-Man are well-documented
on this website, and that sense of disappointment ultimately came down to a mix
of factors that were both in and out of the director's control. The departure
of Edgar Wright from the project he developed for so long was upsetting for any
fan of the filmmaker, and in an odd way, it was a harbinger of things to come in
the Disney/Marvel/Lucasfilm realm. But I gave the final product a chance, still
finding little to love in what felt like an autopilot comic book movie. I found
the film stale on a visual level and unsatisfying on a narrative one,
delivering familiar beats with a comedic edge that never clicked into place.
Most people would call me crazy, but I consider the original Ant-Man to be one of the worst Marvel
movies.
Freed from the
constraints of an origin story, Peyton Reed's Ant-Man and the Wasp is leagues better than its predecessor in
every way, shape, and form. As someone who couldn't find anything good to say
about the first chapter in the saga of Paul Rudd's Scott Lang, this is one of
the surprises of the summer for me. After a brief appearance in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, Marvel's
tiniest superhero returns in this witty, funny, and relatively
uncomplicated adventure, finally starring in the movie he deserves. Also getting the movie she deserves is Evangeline Lilly's awesome Wasp, who takes center stage as the studio's first female co-lead after sitting on the
sidelines during the last installment. Infinitely more appealing on a visual
level and equipped with a less overtly recycled story, the Reed-directed sequel
also features a lightning-fast, truly relentless pace, some clever, zippy
setpieces, and solid doses of much-needed humor. It's a sweet and genuinely
delightful ride.
Set a few years after
the events of Civil War, this sequel
finds Scott Lang on house arrest, suffering the consequences of his fight with
Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. Scott now spends his days trying to entertain
himself, at least when he's not hanging out with Cassie (Abby Ryder Forston),
his beloved daughter and best friend. FBI Agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) keeps
a close eye on Scott, but the former cat burglar will have to violate the terms
of his parole when Hope van Dyne (Lilly) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) come
knocking. Van Dyne and Pym think they're close to rescuing Janet van Dyne
(Michelle Pfeiffer) from the Quantum Realm, but they need Scott to complete their
master plan.
Of course, their
rescue mission won't be without a few bumps in the road. Scott and Hope will be
forced to don the Ant-Man and Wasp suits to contend with Sonny Burch (Walton
Goggins), a dealer of illegal tech who wants a piece of the Pym empire. And
then there's Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), a mysterious villain who wants the
quantum tech for a much more personal reason. Even with these threats on the
horizon, it's a race against time to save Janet, one that will require the help
of a former Pym colleague (Laurence Fishburne), fast-talking Luis (Michael
Pena), and the rest of Scott's crew (T.I. and David Dastmalchian).
In comparison to its
predecessor (and especially more recent outings in the MCU), Ant-Man and the Wasp is a lighter,
funnier movie, and it benefits from a story that keeps the action moving at a
continuous clip for the entire 118 minute runtime. Director Peyton Reed and the
team of writers (the script is credited to Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Rudd,
Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari) are once again playing in a decidedly minor
key, but in the midst of all the science mumbo-jumbo, there are clear and
explicitly established stakes that assist the film from its first scene to the
final battle. Hope and Hank want to save Janet from the Quantum Realm, Scott
wants to win back the trust of his family and friends, and Ghost wants….well,
that I won’t spoil. But it’s all set up in the early goings, and it contributes
to the propulsive momentum that keeps the film chugging along.
This sequel also has
the benefit of a more consistent visual palette, as well as kinetic action
scenes that feel stronger than anything Reed mustered up last time. Boosted by
an aspect ratio change, Ant-Man and the
Wasp features a barrage of zippy, immensely satisfying setpieces, blending the
series’ trademark style with clear action geography and a few clever touches of
visual humor. Last time around, the film’s ideas were sharp and cogent, but the
execution felt sub-par, never fulfilling the potential of a world where men and
women can shrink and grow with the push of a button. Reed’s work here is much
more precise, and one can’t help but wonder if the smoother pre-production
process contributed to these fun little action moments.
The characters in the Ant-Man series are far from complex,
even by Marvel’s standards, but it helps when you have such a likable cast of
veteran actors. While Paul Rudd is a charismatic talent, there just isn’t
enough to the character of Scott Lang for an entire franchise. Evangeline Lilly’s
Wasp was always a necessary co-lead, and she’s as fierce and brilliant as one
would hope (pun intended). Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer bring an air
of prestige to the whole silly thing, while Michael Pena and his supporting
co-stars deliver the laughs. Oh, and whoever told Walton Goggins to basically
play his character from The Hateful Eight
in a Marvel movie deserves a nice raise.
But in a franchise
that thrives on its daring mixture of non-stop comedy and superheroic tragedy,
perhaps the most remarkable thing about Ant-Man
and the Wasp is its tonal consistency. This is a film with a rock-solid
emotional core, one that undoubtedly works in its advantage. At the same time,
this is a goofy, family-friendly comedy of small proportions, a comic book-y
roller-coaster of endless laughs and expertly crafted action. It never
stretches for a tone it can’t achieve, nor does it have any delusions of
grandeur. Ant-Man and the Wasp does
right by its story and its characters, and Reed and the writers never miss a
beat along the way.
Of course, Ant-Man and the Wasp ends with a stinger
for Avengers 4, promising more
adventures (and more danger) for Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne in the future.
Fans came to this film for answers after the devastating final snap of Infinity War, but they’ll probably leave
with more questions about the future of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Still, it’s
doubtful that any Marvel diehards or casual comic book fans will leave Reed’s
film disappointed, as this is another wonderful, zany diversion from the guys
who just can’t miss right now. Even if it can’t quite match up to the studio’s
recent efforts (side note: I was wrong about Ragnarok), Ant-Man and the
Wasp is a vastly superior sequel, one that delivers on its promise of
popcorn-munching superhero fun and expands on Marvel’s micro-verse in thrilling
new ways.
Images: Marvel/IMDb
Comments
Post a Comment