*In the wake of the phenomenon that is “Black Panther” (inching toward an amazing $700 million domestically) and “Avengers:Infinity War” (record-breaking $250 million domestic opening weekend) bringing nearly two dozen heroes together in the definition of an “event” movie, comes the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, “Ant-Man and the Wasp”.
While the heroes, stakes and expectations are small in comparison, they shouldn’t be.
In fact, if there were any justice, the box-office for “Ant-Man and the Wasp” would blow up as much as Paul Rudd’s hero when he decided to go Giant Man mode. This is an extremely fun and entertaining thrill ride of a movie.
It is also a refreshingly fun movie after the serious social issues explored in “Black Panther” and the grim conclusion to “Infinity War”.
As the film opens, Scott Lang (Rudd) finds himself under strict house arrest as punishment for his actions in “Captain America: Civil War”.
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Yet when a once-a-century opportunity presents itself to possibly find the long-thought-dead Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the original Wasp – who is the wife of Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man (Michael Douglas) and mother of Hope Van Dune, the current Wasp (Evangeline Lilly).
It is that mission that compels Lang to risk being caught evading house arrest by dogged F.B.I. agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park, who is clearly enjoying himself), at the risk of being sent to prison and missing his daughter Cassie (the eminently adorable Abby Ryder-Fortson) grow up.
By making the stakes seemingly smaller, it reinforces Lang’s status as an Every day Joe. He’s not a supersoldier, nor does he have a mystic hammer or have a suit of armor he designed himself.
At the end of the day, He’s just a guy trying to do the right thing and make his daughter proud.
Doing that while evading Woo make for some real sidesplitting moments.
It also allows Lilly’s Hope strut her stuff in some imaginative action sequences.
She is truly a partner – a partner who is obviously more talented than the hero she TRAINED in the last film – and has a chance to possibly see the mother she thought was lost to her forever.
On top of that, the heroic duo has to contend with the villainous – and formidable – Ghost, Ava Foster (Hannad John-Kamen, who is a revelation), who gains the ability to phase through objects using Pym’s technology.
Which ties her into friends and old-time heroes Hank Pym and Bill Foster, the former size-changing hero Goliath (Laurence Fishburne).
Which in the end, is what the movie is truly about: family and legacy.
This gives the movie an emotional weight that makes you care about all the action as well as some ingenious comedy bits, by the aforementioned cast, as well as Walt Higgins, Michael Pena, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, T.I. and David Dastmslchian.
So if you want to support a fun, family-friendly, standalone Marvel movie with thrills, heart and an incredible cast, make sure to catch this one – and don’t leave until the credits are over!
Grade: A
Release date: July 6, 2018
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