A Reel Review - ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA

Despite his long comic history, when Ant-Man first arrived on the big screen, it was easy to not take him seriously. The incredible shrinking (and sometimes super-growing) man who talks to bugs could have gone south in a hurry, but the team at Marvel Studios embraced the absurdity, and eventually made Ant-Man one of the key elements in their massive war in AVENGERS: ENDGAME. Now, set some years after the events of ENDGAME, Ant-Man returns with even bigger responsibility in ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. 

 

Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), along with his daughter Cassie, (Kathryn Newton), girlfriend Hope/The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), mentor Hank (Michael Douglas), and Hank’s wife Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), are whisked into the Quantum Realm; a sub-atomic universe populated by strange creatures and inhabitants. While looking for a way out, they cross paths with Kang (Jonathan Majors), a super-being looking to conquer the many universes across time. 

 

Directed by Peyton Reed and the 31st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), QUANTUMANIA has deep roots in not only the AVENGERS films, but also the previous two ANT-MAN solo films. Janet, who had once been trapped in the Quantum Realm, knows the threat of Kang and has kept her knowledge of him and his threat a secret from her family. In their fight to get home and to keep Kang from escaping and continuing his conquest, the family voyages across the Realm, encountering strange beings, stranger places, and finding themselves in a war against Kang. 

 

The war against Kang and the fight to keep him imprisoned in the Realm forces the film to stay in the fantastical world for (guessing) 95% of the film. Once they arrive there (after 10 minutes in), there isn’t a single shot for two hours that isn’t overloaded with CGI. The graphics look great, and the creature designs fantastic (despite being so weird), but there is artificial feel to the film that leaves us cold. On top of that, this is the first ANT-MAN adventure that isn’t very fun. The usual yuk-fest that Ant-Man is associated with is gone, which is fine for a change of pace, but this adventure and war just lacks a sense of urgency and fun. Kang’s threat is real, but QUANTUMANIA just doesn’t have the desperation or stand-up-and-cheer moments that the MCU has been known for. 

 

There is still a lot to love in QUANTUMANIA. The family dynamic between Lang, his daughter, and his adopted family of Hope, Hank, and Janet works very well. They’re not just superheroes but a family working their issues. Long-time comic readers will take great joy in the presentation of Kang and his right-hand man; the MCU did their homework on these characters and it shows. 

 

Acting is very good. Paul Rudd is a delight as always, and Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer are a great match. Jonathan Majors is outstanding and is worthy to take the throne as the MCU’s new Big Bad. The show is stolen by Kathryn Newton who is incredible. 

 

Throughout its long history, the MCU has excelled at making self-contained adventures which also serve the larger universe and overall storyline. QUANTUMANIA isn’t perfectly balanced as this time Ant-Man has to do a lot of setup…because yes…something BIG is coming. That lopsidedness can be annoying, but forgivable if they remembered what made the MCU so popular since 2008: a little fun. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: Rent it