Today’s quick review: Ant-Man and the Wasp. Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), an ex-con under house arrest for his activities as Ant-Man, gets roped back into the superhero life when his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), learns that he hold the key to rescuing Hank’s missing wife. To do so, the two men and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), Hank’s daughter and the new Wasp, must steal back vital technology from the intangible thief Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen).
Ant-Man and the Wasp is a superhero action comedy set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Picking up two years after the events of Captain America: Civil War, the movie follows Scott Lang, who wants nothing more than to finish out the remainder of his sentence in peace, as he once again dons the size-altering Ant-Man armor for a good cause. Inventive action and punchy comedy abound, but with arguably a rougher treatment than the original Ant-Man.
One of Ant-Man and the Wasp’s biggest draws is its cast. Paul Rudd makes for a likable father and hero: well-intentioned and competent, but far from perfect. He falls into an easy rhythm with Michael Douglas, playing the surly Dr. Pym, and Evangeline Lilly, playing the sharp Hope Van Dyne. Michael Pena again steals the show as Scott’s loyal, fast-talking friend Luis, while new additions Hannah John-Kamen and Laurence Fishburne fit in quite nicely.
Another big draw is the action. Dr. Pym’s size-altering technology gets pushed to new extremes in and out of combat, letting Ant-Man and the Wasp engage in all sorts of inventive stunts. Ghost turns out to be a good match for them, as her phasing ability leads to even more creative fight scenes. The film’s action is backed by light, capable comedy that makes use of Pym’s technology and the characters’ own vivid personalities in equal measure.
Still, Ant-Man and the Wasp has a few flaws that make it a step down from the original. The plot has interesting ideas but rough edges, with a less focused story and only loose reasons for why the adventure happens as quickly as it does. The sequel also has less heart than the first film, though still enough of it to be fulfilling. Finally, the technological explanations are lacking, with more hand-waving than is strictly necessary.
In spite of a couple of faults, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a fun, adventurous watch that fans of the superhero genre will enjoy. Its lower stakes and more personal story make it a pleasant break from Marvel’s large-scale crossover movies, while the film’s comedic tone and its heroes’ unique powers set it apart from the rest of the genre. Check it out if you enjoyed the first one. For a superhero movie in a similar vein, try Spider-Man: Homecoming.
7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for a fun mix of action and comedy that’s missing some of the polish of the original.