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(Michelle Pfeiffer, Ant Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania, Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania film review, Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumaniareview, Jonathan Majors, Kang, Marvel, MCU, Paul Rudd, Wasp
Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania
Review by Paul Bowler
Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe gets off to a confident start with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) are back to continue their adventures as the diminutive super-heroes Ant-Man and the Wasp. This time Lang and his extended family get caught up in an adventure into the mysterious Quantum Realm after Scott’s 18 year old daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) manages to send a signal into the mysterious subatomic realm.
Ant-Man and Cassie, along with his partner the Wasp, and in-laws Hank Pam (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) find themselves in a bizarre world filled with micro-fauna, luminescent wildlife, and even stranger looking lifeforms! The familiar sci-fi trappings of this CGI heavy world looks like its been cut from the same cloth as something out of Star Trek or Star Wars, and there’s even a rebellion brewing against an oppressive all-powerful regime run by Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).
Paul Rudd impresses once again in his role as Ant-Man, its perhaps ironic really how the smallest Avenger suddenly finds himself playing such a big role in shaping the future of the MCU in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Indeed, Rudd, Lilly, and Douglas once again make an engaging trio, Kathryn Newton is also great as Lang’s daughter, Cassie, but it is Michelle Pfeiffer who really stands out as Pym’s wife and Hope’s mother, Janet Van Dyne. Having previously been trapped in the Quantum Realm, Pfeiffer’s character is often right in the thick of the action, although she clearly knows a lot more about the Quantum Ream and its despot ruler than she initially lets on.
Its when hyper-powered Kang himself, brilliantly played by Jonathan Majors, enters the fray that Ant-Man and the Wasp:Quantumania really kicks into high gear, especially when he tries to use Cassie as leverage to get Scott to help him retrieve his power core. Ant-Man must endeavour to do everything in his power to help his family return home and stop Kang’s evil scheme.
There are big action set-pieces galore and mind boggling subatomic world-building that is dazzling to behold. Franchise director Peyton Reed is an assured pair of hands that just about keeps this theequel on track, the complex narrative of Kang’s feature debut is compelling, but Ant-Man’s emotional family drama often gets lost in all the CGI mayhem. Kang’s henchman, M.O.D.O.K (Corey Stoll), is the films biggest stumbling block, and I’m sorry to say the MCU’s take on one of Marvel Comics most grotesque villains is a lamentable effort at best! The subtle charm and humour of the previous Ant-Man films is also somewhat lacking, and its a great shame fun key supporting characters from the first two films also sit this one out.
This Ant-Man movie is essentially all about setting up Kang as the MCU’s next big-bad. There is still a very heartwarming story about family underneath all the CGI spectacle, and it also does a good job of paving the way for the Kang Dynasty and the Multiverse Saga that will eventually culminate in Avengers: Secret Wars. Despite its slight flaws, Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania is still an exciting adventure, although one that’s not quite as fun as the previous Ant-Man films.
About The Author
Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook
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