Ant-Man and The Wasp – In Cinemas Now

Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018)
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Written by: Andrew Barrer, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Gabriel Ferrari, Paul Rudd
Starring: Abby Rider Forston, Bobby Cannavale, Evangeline Lilly, Hannah John-Kamen, Judy Greer, Lawrence Fishburne, Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Walton Goggins

Whilst under house arrest following the events of Captain America Civil War, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is whiling away the days, having fun with his daughter and trying to get a business of the ground with Luis (Michael Peña), who once again is trying to steal the show here. Scott is no longer in contact with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) or his daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly), after implicating them in the violation of the Sokovia Accords. However, after a dream about Hank’s wife that felt all too real, he gets back in touch with his old mentors and this kicks into action the events of the film.

The film itself is remarkably self contained, considering the ginormous epics that have preceded Ant-man and the Wasp. Thor Ragnarok, Black Panther and Avengers Infinity War, have all been massive films, spanning the world and the galaxy, whereas the latest marvel addition is isolated to one town, and the cast is relatively small in comparison. As a result, it feels like a tighter film with a pretty straight and narrow plot. It’s possibly one of the most predictable Marvel films of recent years, but it’s all about the characters and the set pieces. Much like Thor Ragnarok, it’s constantly and consistently funny, and both the leads and the supporting cast are extremely enjoyable to watch. Paul Rudd feels more suited to role than ever, and is easily the most entertaining lead in the MCU. He also brings a lot of heart to the role, as he’s just trying to stay on the right side of the law, and be there for his daughter when he can.

There’s plenty of action as well as drama, when almost from the off, we’re introduced to the Wasp, who is more than capable of holding her own, as we’re treated to a fight scene comparable to a Jackie Chan movie. Well, if he had the ability to shrink to the size of an insect, anyway. There’s plenty of car chases through the iconic San Francisco streets, too. Throw in the growing and shrinking abilities, and it makes for quite a fun and inventive time. As well as the new villain Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), who shows up trying to steal the tech that Hank Pym is building, the team also have to deal with the shady tech dealers who are also after what Hank has. This often plays out quite amusingly as the hapless foes tend to get foiled, be it by the motor mouthed Luis, and his silly sidekicks, or by their own incompetence. That being said, we’ve still got Ant-Man pretty much learning the ropes, especially when he’s given a questionable new suit, leading to some very amusing moments throughout the film.

Although the baseline superhero formula is ever present, Ant-man and the Wasp elevates itself above that thanks to a witty script, fantastic characters and actors, and some inventive action. It may not be the most epic superhero movie of the recent bunch, but it’s definitely the most entertaining.

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