Ant-Man Review

Ant-Man (2015)
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Written by: Edgar Wright, Adam McKay and Joe Corneish
Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily, Corey Stoll, Antony Mackie, etc.

With the utter and welcomed privilege of having Disney+ for free thanks to my service with Verizon Wireless, the multi-trillion dollar dynasty of the past century has been spoiling millions now with it's new and unbelievably satisfying new streaming service that I am able to re-watch as well as discover MCU films I have fully yet to sink my teeth into the past 11 years. Yes! I know hard to believe, but there are a handful of Marvel films from said shared universe I missed during the second and third Phases that now I am able to finally watch and see how they hold up next to some of the best installments of the franchise. One thing I can definitely say about Marvel Studios' Ant-Man is that it is a refreshing and fun detour from super powered team up sequel to the original Avengers, Age of Ultron that same year. While I only viewed Age of Ultron once and through a very grainy browser from a site showing movie releases at the time, 0_0...uhhhh....I didn't find the movie that impressive compared to it's remarkably entertaining predecessor. But we'll see once I give that Avengers sequel a re-watch after I give Ant-Man its do. What I immensely love about the flick is well....Paul Rudd in the lead role of Scott Lang, our Ant-Man or rather our Ant-Man II considering he becomes the unlikely successor of the original Ant-Man. Rudd is just...sigh...as charismatic and charming as ever a former thief turned larger than life hero as the writers, Edgar Wright and Adam McKay, do a fine job of establishing Scott as a smug but hopeful criminal who is trying hard to desperately reconnect with the daughter he left behind after being incarcerated for so long. You truly feel bad and are rooting for Scott despite being thrown back into a life of crime because his overwhelming desire to be around his daughter again. Of course, that leads him to the arms of billionaire scientist, Hank Pym (legendary actor Michael Douglas) and his daughter Hope Van Dyne, played by Evangeline Lily who need Scott's particular set of skills to stop a madman named Darren Cross, payed by Corey Stoll who now is in control of Pym Industries, from harnessing the formula to create small sized soldiers that could take over the world.

What I simply adore about the script is even though this is yet another superhero film, they add LOTS of lightweight heist film aspects to it considering Scott and his hilarious team of robbers, led by the undeniably lovable Michael Pena, make it much more fun than it should be. Of course, the incredible comic elements of Hank Pym (The original Ant-Man) and his history of his Pym Particles/Adventures as we see how he trains Scott in becoming the new Ant-man. You think a superhero movie about a man who can shrink and grow would be lame but the writers do a fine job of making the world of Ant-man feel fun and fresh with some dazzling shrinking/growing effects that seamlessly blend into action scenes that surely kept audiences so entertained during the summer of 2015. Honestly, the main trio of the movie, Hank, Hope and especially Scott just make this film the enjoyable detour from the usual MCU arc we were use to at that point. Douglas does a fine job of the reluctant father figure to Scott as he recruits and trains him to become the world's newest yet unlikeliest hero. Also, I appreciate the father/daughter arc between Hank and Hope as she is so adamant about being the new Ant-man (woman??? O_o) instead of trusting a thief like Scott who they don't fully trust. Of course, we learn in heartbreaking scene where Douglas delivers a solid performance that Hank is only protecting Hope from the horrible tragedy that took her mother away, Janet Van Dyne aka The Wasp, during a past mission when she was a child. It adds some necessary layers to the story by adding some emotional resonance despite the sometimes over the top goofy nature of a mini- man who can control ants. I also truly love the story of Scott, a former convict, is just trying to gain back the time he lost raising his precious daughter, Cassie. That's why I just adore Paul Rudd as not only an actor but a person as he just exudes such natural compassion, charisma and charm to the role, especially during his scenes with Cassie. You just completely understand why he would go back to a life of crime just to see his daughter again

Also, Evangeline Lily really gives Hope that stand offish but genuinely caring performance that gives Hope some depth instead of a character that could have easily been so shrill and unlikable to viewers but her budding romance that builds between her and Scott really compliments both actors especially because of the heartwarming chemistry between the two. She is more serious and focused while Scott is clearly not so mature and willing to give into her often stoicism. They develop each other because of their distinct personalities rubbing off each other as it helps Scott not just grow as a superhero with his skills as Ant-Man but courage and heart as the man behind the mask. Also, I can't forget to mention other nice moments throughout the film like Scott leading an army of ants straight to the Avengers' new base and having a unforeseen fight with Anthony Mackie's Falcon that's both outrageously hilarious and well choreographed fight sequence with the movie's stunning effects, like I said, that just blend in so well into the already well established MCU at the time. Everything from the way Scott shrinks and grows to him controlling/interacting the ants make for such a entertaining scenes as well as his bubbling band of criminals in the film. All three, rapper T.I.'s Dave, David Dastmalchian's Kurt, not to mention Michael Pena's impeccable comedic timing as Luis just really add more fun aspects to the film. I absolutely loved his storytelling sequences where his voice was dubbed over characters (including yet another hilarious cameo by Stan "The Man" Lee that would be otherwise boring given that the only REAL problem with it is...sigh...a major problem with the MCU at that point and that being the villain. Darren Cross, I'm sorry, but he's just your typical corporate villain out for power and success by doing any means necessary to achieve his goal aka killing and manipulating those around him to obtain his ultimate goal. Don't get me wrong, the Yellowjacket suit as well as abilities that mimic much of Ant-Man's powers are great during the dazzling VFX infused fight sequences but there is really no investment in him as a character that is just too 2 dimensional and disappointing when as usual, our heroes/supporting characters are left to carry the film on their shoulders alone.

In conclusion, Marvel Studio's Ant-Man isn't dark like the most recent DCEU outputs from Warner Brothers or as epic as the team-up spectacle of the Avengers films. But it has a lot of heart and charm to it that has been missing from the MCU films at the time. Ant-Man might be an usually unconventional hero but you can't help but route for him even during the edge of your seat quantum realm moment during the film's climactic ending. Not to mention, a film that can make a toy train sequence action packed and unbelievably humorous definitely is worth the purchase as well as streaming price. :) Honestly, the first outing in the soon to be Ant-Man trilogy really is the best so far and it's unfortunate the sequel was such a non-eventful return to Scott and his solo adventures (Even Evangeline Lily's Wasp II doesn't live up to her emotional pay off end credit scene after the end of this film -_-) But this one is so worth going back through as a crime thriller turned silly and sensational superhero journey with enough chuckles and wonderfully inventive action scenes/effects that the viewer will easily not be bother by such a follow-up disappointment.

"Debuting the world of Hank Pym and the Ant-Man mythology into the MCU, 2015's "Ant-man" is a spectacular feet of special effects; added by a star studded cast led by the wonderfully likable Paul Rudd who effortlessly leaves you wanting more of him and his sudden calling as the world's newest superhero. While the villain, once again, suffers from lukewarm machinations/motives as well as a cliche performance from Corey Stoll who should have been given far more to work with as Darren Cross aka Yellowjacket, the films succeeds more than it fails as the quality is so much bigger than it's microscopic leading man. ;)"

Final Film Score: B+