REVIEW: Ant-Man & The Wasp Reminds Fans Of The Lighter Days In The MCU
Ant-Man and the Wasp is a much needed break from Marvel’s previous emotional roller coaster, Avengers: Infinity War. Directed by Peyton Reed, Ant-Man and the Wasp catches us up on the whereabouts of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) two years after the events of Captain America: Civil War. Under house arrest with only a few days remaining, Scott is doing his best to pass the time when he starts to dream about his time in the Quantum Realm. He soon learns these aren’t simply dreams but a message from Hank Pym’s wife Janet, who has been trapped in the realm for 30 years.
Scott reunites with Hank (Michael Douglas) and Hope (Evangeline Lilly), who have been on the run last two years due to Scott’s involvement in the events of Civil War. The father/daughter duo begrudgingly bring Scott in to the fold as they set out to return Janet from the Quantum Realm. As if building a bridge to the Realm isn’t hard enough, the trio is further hampered by a Ghost with a mission and a Southern mobster hellbent on stealing Hope and Hank’s lab.
Reed does a wonderful job of balancing the screen and action time between Scott and Hope. The film feels more like an equal partnership instead of a hero and sidekick pairing. In fact, more focus is on Hope as the Wasp and how she uses her skills and knowledge than it is on Ant-Man returning to duty. Paul Rudd oozes endless charm as Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Evangeline Lilly is even more bad-ass as Hope Van Dyne/the Wasp. The twosome make a great pair and play off each other well. Michael Douglas as physicist Hank Pym is a treat, notably in his proud Papa moments when he watches as Hope grows in to her strong, super hero role.
Michelle Pfeiffer is new to the group as Janet van Dyne, Hope’s mother who has been trapped in the Quantum Realm. Pfeiffer reminds us what a star she’s always been and my only small issue is we didn’t get to see her enough. Michael Pena, Tip “T.I.” Harris, and David Dastmalchian return as Scott’s former convict friends now on the straight and narrow working as a security team. Pena, as he was in the first film, is hysterical and lights up every scene he is in.
As far as Marvel films go, Ant-Man & the Wasp is a lighthearted joy ride filled with laughs and smiles, something that Marvel needed after the intensity of Infinity War. All good things do come to an end and the mid credit scene will definitely remind you why we are all on the edge of our seats until May 2019.
Grade: B+