Hey Shortboxers! This review of Marvel’s newest installment to the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a bit late but we’re here to chat all things Ant-Man. But before we do, if you haven’t checked out our Just the Facts: Ant-Man post, we recommend reading that first and foremost. It’ll be worth it, believe me.
Okay, let’s dive right into it. The reason why I wanted to keep this a non-spoiler review is to give everyone a chance to check out the movie on the big screen, and if this review entices you to pay for that movie ticket, then that’s a win and virtual high-5 in my book. Let me begin by saying this is one of the funniest Marvel movies that I have ever watched. Some Guardians of the Galaxy fans might be guffawing at their screens right now from my statement, but I am one of those fans and Ant-Man edges out GOTG. Which I think is a great thing that Ant-Man has for it because some people may be turned off about superhero movies and the genre itself, but when I describe this movie to my friends and family, I focus on how comedic the cast is and just the timing they deliver the jokes and payoffs. And it isn’t just Paul Rudd doing his comedic thing. One actor that I’ve followed for awhile that was as much a star as Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, and Michael Douglas is Michael Peña. He definitely brought the laughs and his portrayal of Scott Lang’s former cellmate and buddy made the “heist” part of the movie a creative one.
But aside from the laughs, this movie was well done in the midst of the Edgar Wright and Marvel falling out. Now don’t get me wrong, I will follow Edgar Wright to The World’s End and was bummed when this ordeal resulted in him walking away from a movie he had been vested in for a long time, but Peyton Reed did an impressive job in making this really connect with the MCU. I would have loved to watch Edgar Wright’s version of Ant-Man because I’m a fan of the Cornetto Trilogy, and guess his movie would be in the same vain, but the current incarnation that mesmerized me for 2 hours made me want to pick up anything Ant-Man in comic form. And for me, this is the indication that a superhero movie did it’s job if it makes the viewer want to read more of the title character.
Ok, let’s get into the nitty gritty. In true fashion, the core of this movie is the “heist” which brings Scott Lang, played by Paul Rudd, who is freshly released from prison, into a job that Michael Peña eloquently explains is a home run. This is where the fun begins. Paul Rudd does a great job in making us believe he’s a cat burglar, doing parkour, and donning all black. And his crew, consisting of a hacker, Michael Peña, and T.I. (yup, the recording artist and rapper, T.I.) is a bunch of hooligans that can be chalked up to the “Disney” influence within Marvel movies, to keep it funny and light-hearted. But they propel the story forward and speaks to Scott Lang’s history and character, and thus establishing that dare-to-be-great realization that our title character learns when faced with being able to support his daughter. And in retrospect, this theme runs throughout the movie as we find out more about Hank Pym, played by Michael Douglas, and his decision to keep the Ant-Man project a secret. And let me say, he did a great job as the first incarnation of Ant-Man.
The flow of the movie along with the witty dialogue with just enough comedy contributed to my overall enjoyment of this flick and welcome it to the MCU. Honestly, I am like most comic readers who shrugged off Ant-Man because his powers is to shrink and become small. How’s that a superpower? But Paul Rudd’s performance and the brilliant writing played out perfectly on screen. And in the end, I stand by the review that this is just a really funny, summer movie that happens to have superheroes, action, and not one but two post-credit scenes (one mid-credit scene which is my favorite out of the two and one traditional post-credit scene that ties in the next Marvel movie, Captain America: Civil War). You know with two post-credit scenes, Marvel means business; plus these teases help wet our appetites for the next coming installments.
So in as few words as possible, go see Ant-Man!
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