by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor

Ant-Man, the next installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has finally arrived. There is no question that this movie has been controversial throughout its production, and many of us were wondering if it could possibly overcome the weight that has been placed on its success. Edgar Wright (Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) was the original mind behind bringing Ant-Man to the big screen, and it was his vision that helped to drive the comedic feel of the overall film, but he ultimately left the project due to creative differences with Marvel.  So with all of the hype (positive and negative) surrounding this film, how does it hold up in the growing landscape of superhero films?

For those of you who don’t know the backstory: Ant-Man is actually one of the founding members of The Avengers in the comics. He and his wife, Janet van Dyne aka The Wasp, were critically important in the early years of the Marvel Universe. Hank later abandoned the Ant-Man adventures, and eventually handed off the name and suit to thief Scott Lang. All three of these characters are extremely well established in the comic world, so fans have been wondering why it has taken so long to get them to the big screen.

Ant-Man quickly establishes Hank Pym’s role in the larger MCU (with some cameos from some familiar S.H.I.E.L.D. and Iron Man faces). When the government attempts to weaponize Pym’s research, the shrinking scientist decides to remove himself from the equation. Many years later, we learn that Pym Tech’s Dr. Darren Cross is on the verge of unveiling a new breakthrough in warfare technology. Cross has backwards engineered Pym’s shrinking tech (formerly known as “Pym Particles”), and has created the ultimate weapon: The Yellow Jacket suit. Pym and his daughter Hope must race against the clock to steal the suit and destroy the research before the world is changed forever. The two reluctantly enlist the aid of Master Burglar Scott Lang to pull off the high stakes heist.

The film stars Michael Douglas (Fatal Attraction) as Hank Pym, Paul Rudd (Role Models) as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly (LOST) as Hope van Dyne, Corey Stoll (Non-Stop) as Darren Cross/Yellow Jacket. Douglas definitely does justice to his character, demonstrating just how intelligent Hank truly is, and making sure he has a lasting impact on the larger Marvel Universe. Paul Rudd could not have been a better fit for Scott Lang. The decision to play up the humor for the film allowed Rudd to have a lot of fun throughout the story, and also demonstrated his ability to handle an action packed role. I feel like we might see more action roles in the future for Rudd, similar to how Chris Pratt blew up following his role in Guardians of the Galaxy. Lilly as Hope was a welcomed addition to the team, playing a character that really has only existed in an alternate universe version of the Marvel Comics. The chemistry between these three helped to sell the movie, and I am truly excited to see more of them in future stories.  Last but not least, some of the funniest moments in the film came from Michael Pena (End of Watch), David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight), and T.I. (Get Hard). While their characters are not based in the comic world, they brought a lot of the humor to the narrative, and helped to make Ant-Man that much more entertaining.

We all knew that Ant-Man was going to be a different type of Marvel movie. Many predicted that this film could be the first true flop in Marvel’s Cinematic endeavors. I personally went into the film with extremely low expectations, and ended up laughing my way through the film. If Hank or any of the Ant-Man characters had been included in the Avengers films, I feel like it would have been very easy to do this standalone. In order to succeed, the writing for this film had to be some of the best to date, and I feel that Ant-Man definitely hits all of the right beats. Guardians of the Galaxy could have been a disaster, and it ended up being one of the best Marvel films. Ant-Man is sure to surprise audiences in the same way, and leaves you excited for more tales to astonish.

 

Aside from the humor, Ant-Man also cashed in on the nostalgia factor. If you grew up watching Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, you will get a kick out of some of the smaller scenes in the film. The Ants themselves are utilized in some fantastic ways that could not have been predicted. While the story itself was smaller than the other Marvel films, Ant-Man had some memorable set pieces and dramatic CGI moments. I would definitely spend the money and see this one in 3D.

You might be wondering, where is Janet van Dyne? Did The Wasp make the cut? Thanks to the power of flashbacks, we learn the secret fate of Janet, and finally get to see The Wasp in all of her glory. Her classic character design gets a really cool update to fit into the Cinematic Universe. While the flashback was ultimately an amazing sequence, we can only hope to see more of this founding Avenger in the future.

Overall

Ant-Man is the final installment in Phase 2 of the Marvel Universe, and is a solid bookend on the series of films. Unlike Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man felt like more of a complete story from start to finish. While there are some glimpses of the future, the story really didn’t deviate from the main narrative in order to further the franchise. Ant-Man is now in my personal Top 5 Marvel Films, and I would be shocked if it didn’t make your list as well. Just like you did with Guardians of the Galaxy, make sure you go into this film with an open mind. You will be pleasantly surprised.

ComicsOnline gives Ant-Man 5 out of 5 uses of Pym Particles.

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