by Emma Smith, Reporter
Do you need a superhero palate cleanser after the traumatic events of Avengers: Infinity War? Good news! Ant-Man and The Wasp have got your back, or exoskeleton if you are of the Formicidae persuasion (that’s how you get ants). Director Peyton Reed (Ant-Man) has created an exciting summer blockbuster that does justice to the Ant-Man and The Wasp’s mythology and furthers the narrative of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Almost two years have passed since the events of Captain America: Civil War. While Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is nearing the end of his house arrest, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) have been forced to go on the run from the FBI. When an unexpected connection is made to the long-lost Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the trio are forced to work together again to save the day. With a race against time to save the original Wasp, the clock counts down all while the three attempt to dodge supervillian Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), evil businessman Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins), and the ever-looming FBI.
While Marvel’s recent large scale productions have been impressive, it is their solo outings that shine with the detailed integration of character development and mythology. This movie builds on the origins of the Ant-Man and The Wasp with new takes on the characters by Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly and a complete reimagining of supervillan Ghost. For those unfamiliar with the comic book origins, The Wasp was one of the founding members of the Avengers, earning the nickname the “Wondrous Wasp.” In the MCU, Evangeline Lilly brings to life a version of The Wasp who possesses both formidable fighting skills and scientific credentials. While it is frustrating that it took this long for Marvel to bring The Wasp to the big screen, this movie handles the character with depth and affection.
The film’s biggest strength is in the action. The creative team clearly had fun playing with the Ant-Man and The Wasp’s abilities to shrink/grow and Ghost’s ability to phase through states of matter. Every action scene has several sequences showcases these abilities. Even the Giant-Man size change, previously seen in Civil War, pops up in a creative and amusing way that keeps its original appearance from being a one off joke. It is hard to choose a favorite of the action sequences, but a standout is one that makes good use of San Francisco’s most famous street.
The emotional core of the film is also strong, with a thematic emphasis on family dynamics. Scott’s torn loyalties between his daughter and The Pym/van Dyne family is a highlight of the movie. Hope’s desperation to see her mother again comes through perfectly and adds to the emotional stakes. The movie does falter a bit with Hank Pym. While his egotistical jackassery (now copyrighted) is comic book accurate, it makes him rather difficult to root for and detracts from the central conflict. Marvel also continues its trend of multidimensional villains with Ghost. The movie fleshes out the character’s backstory in a way that adds to the overall themes of family and the gray areas of moral responsibility. It is refreshing to see a villain with more complex motivations than world domination. The secondary villain Sonny Burch is substantially less complicated, but with Walton Goggins lending his trademark swagger to the role, who really cares?
Stay for the mid-credit scene, but be forewarned it may make you want to throw any leftover popcorn at the screen.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Ant-Man and The Wasp – 4.5 out of 5 drumming ants.
