Ant-Man and the Wasp

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer

Directed by Peyton Reed

The Story:
After Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) gets apprehended in Germany fighting alongside Captain America, he's placed under house arrest, while the FBI continued their search for Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), since it's Pym's suit that Scott used.  Now estranged, the friends come together again after Scott has a vision of Hope's mother Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), who was lost in the Quantum Realm thirty years ago.

Hank and Hope have been working on a bridge that would allow them entry to the Quantum Realm to find Janet, and Hope becomes the new Wasp as she tries to find the pieces to put the bridge together.  Meanwhile, a mysterious villain named Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) also wants access to the Quantum Realm, possessing powers of invisibility and phasing.  Can Scott, Hope, and Hank find Janet in one piece, or will she remain lost in the Quantum Realm forever?

The Synopsis:
The first "Ant-Man" was a surprise hit for Marvel, basically since it focused on what many people believe to be a second-tier superhero.  He doesn't have the tech suits like Iron Man, he's not a super soldier like Captain America, not big and green like the Hulk, and is not a god of thunder - Ant-Man has the ability to control ants and shrink himself to ant-size while still being super strong.  Yet, "Ant-Man" introduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe to more than just a pint-sized hero - it also introduced the concept of the Quantum Realm, a world between worlds, a place where time and space are blurred.

While it was just a subtext in the first film, it takes center stage in "Ant-Man and the Wasp," as our heroes try to find a way to get inside and rescue Janet Van Dyne, who's been trapped there for thirty years.  Unlike the other huge Marvel films this year ("Black Panther" and "Avengers: Infinity War"), "Ant-Man and the Wasp" is a more low-key film that doesn't necessarily have worldwide implications: rather, it's a quest to bring a family together, while also centering on deeply human flaws that we don't see typically in superhero movies.

These flaws come from Scott Lang, the new Ant-Man.  He's continually haunted by the mistake of the past - assisting Captain America in fighting Iron Man over the Sokovia Accords - and unlike most superhero movies, he has to live with the consequences of his actions.  He's confined to house arrest for two years, but now he's three days away from being a free man.  As we all know, the "three days until retirement" scenario never bodes well, and here it's no different.  Having spent two years without contact, Hope and Hank re-connect with Scott after he has a dream about Janet.  Despite the fact that the three are on the outs (Hank and Hope are on the run because Scott stole the Ant-Man suit to help Captain America, thereby making them involuntary accomplices), the three have to work together to rescue Janet.  The first half of the film deals with their falling out and eventual climb to trust and respect again, and introduces us to Marvel's first female hero whose name appears in the title.

That hero is the Wasp, who used to be Janet's name, but has now been passed down to Hope.  Hank gave her a new, upgraded suit that came equipped with wings and blasters, and she sets out to find the pieces to put together a bridge to the Quantum Realm.  Evangeline Lilly is essentially born to play the new Wasp, as she's one of cinema's most recent femme fatales, appearing in action shows like "Lost" and films like "The Hobbit," where she plays an elf warrior.  She blends intelligence and agility, martial arts and weapons handling like a pro, and proves that women can be just as powerful as men on the superhero battlefield.

Michael Douglas returns as Hank Pym, and here he's given a lot more to work with, both in seriousness and humor.  He delivers some of the best one-liners in the film, and does so in a completely deadpan way that makes it all the more enjoyable.  He's also working closer with Hope and Scott in trying to bring back his wife, and has more action scenes than the first.  I love that they continue the pseudo-parent-son relationship between Hank and Scott, as it remains one of the strongest points in the "Ant-Man" series.

Also returning is Michael Pena as Scott's friend Luis, a former conman who's gone straight and started his own security firm (perfectly called "X-Con") with his former crew members.  Once again, Luis steals the show with his offbeat behavior and humorous stories, and he's also given more a chance to get into the action.

Compared to the first film, you can clearly see the development of the Pym Particles have grown exponentially.  This gives both Ant-Man and the Wasp more powers than before, as they can use the Particles to grow and shrink different objects (such as a building, a car, and a Pez dispenser) to their advantage.  This makes for nearly limitless possibilities to subdue enemies, except for one.

That one is Ghost, played by Hannah John-Kamen.  Ghost possesses the ability to phase through objects and become invisible, but there's more to her motives than just world domination, which makes for a more compelling villain than just a one-trek mind.  Without going into spoiler territory, there's a reason Ghost wants Janet back from the Quantum Realm, and it's not the same as Janet's family.

As with all other Marvel films, the action is fast-paced and exciting, but what sets "Ant-Man" apart is that it doesn't focus on New York City, but rather San Francisco.  Peyton Reed uses this backdrop beautifully in a particularly harrowing car chase scene down the winding roads and tight turns of the town, making for a exciting adventure for the audience to experience.

Throw in the fact that we see Scott as more than just a hero with no vulnerabilities - he's a man who's constantly trying to do good, but finds himself doing more harm, especially to those he loves.  This makes for a more nuanced character than a one-liner comedian, but shows a true heart as well.  He wants to do right by his daughter, but also wants to reunite Janet with her family - and both desires are polar opposites of each other.  If he helps Janet, he could go to jail for twenty years; if he stays with his daughter, he risks loosing Janet to the Quantum Realm forever.  This struggle is the heart of the film, and Paul Rudd is once again the perfect casting choice for such a character with this type of predicament. Again, Marvel casts the perfect people for the role, resulting in a sequel that's every part as equal as its predecessor, while also maintaining a more light-hearted tone, especially after the worldwide implications of "Infinity War."

The Summary:
Once again blending humor, action, and heart, "Ant-Man and the Wasp" not only brings to the forefront a Marvel female hero, but also delves deeper into the family dynamic and provides us with a deeply flawed hero whose heart is in the right place, even if he finds himself in the wrong places at times.

The Score: A+