Summary
8 tech score
“Ant-Man and the Wasp” (Disney)
Another weekend, another movie from the Marvel universe. This time out it is the sequel to “Ant-Man.” Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly play the title roles in “Ant-Man and the Wasp” and they are the perfect fit for this more light-hearted than usual Marvel treat. This is also one of the most family accessible movies from Marvel. With other super-hero movies such as “Deadpool” and “Logan” going the R-rated route, it is a welcome change to get a film that caters to the family audience.
“Ant-Man and the Wasp” has three major factors going for it. Number one is the casting of the two leads. Both Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly project a persona of being the nice couple who live next door. Rudd has a self effacing manner that is totally endearing while Lilly is a very pretty woman but not a Hollywood type of beauty. They are both actors with whom the audience can relate.
Number two is the script. There is a basic plot here about bringing back Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer) from a quantum realm, or something like that. She has been trapped there for thirty years. Her husband Hank (Michael Douglas) and their daughter Hope/Wasp (Lilly) have come up with a method of rescuing her, but they need the help of Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Rudd).
Getting through all of this “quantum” stuff would be a little tedious unless the script had a large dose of comedy infused into it all. It does, and there are more laughs in this movie than you could ever expect. Rudd is the main creator of humor and of sharp-witted one liners. He manages to say some truly off hand comments that just flow naturally from his mouth and end up being totally hilarious.
This also leads in to point number three and that is a picture perfect supporting cast. Michael Pena is back as Scott’s work partner Luis. He is a bit of a bumbler but when he gets messed up in all the quantum business it is one quick joke after another. Add to this a menacing businessman named Sonny Burch who is played by Walton Goggins. Goggins doesn’t have that many funny moments but he is so quirky in so many different ways that you can’t help but relish any of his scenes.
As comic relief you also have to recognize Judy Greer as Scott’s ex, Bobby Cannavale as her mate, and the delightful Abby Ryder-Fortson as Scott’s daughter Cassie. Plus Randall Park appears in a few scenes as FBI Agent Jimmy Woo who in charge of Scott’s house arrest and each appearance he makes is a funny one.
Adding to the more dramatic aspects of the film are Douglas and Pfeiffer as well as Laurence Fishbourne and Hannah John-Kamen. They play Dr. Bill Foster and his protoge Ava, a woman with special powers.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
“Ant-Man and the Wasp” is a film about love in all of its forms. There is romantic love, familial love as well as love between friends. It never gets overly intense but the bonds of family and friends are clearly presented. These bonds plus a lot of adventure coupled with a ton of laughs make “Ant-Man and the Wasp” the entertainment bonanza that it is.
I loved every minute of it from beginning to end and therefore scored “Ant-Man and the Wasp” a MARVEL-ous 8 out of 10.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
