Hey All!
Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Wasp is the sequel to the 2015 film Ant-Man and is the 20th film in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Twenty films in ten years but this one is not weighed down by all nineteen preceding films. Due to the light prerequisite of films preceding this latest installment, the film itself is also lighter and makes the Ant-Man films one of the more comedic and fun series in the MCU.
The whole gang has returned for this one. Taking place 2 years after Captain America Civil War, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd returning to the role) is now out on probation (seems like he will always be on probation) and is really starting to get his life on track. We see him being a present and engaged father with his daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson also returning). He even is starting a new security business with his buddies of ex-cons from the first film Luis, Kurt, and Dave (Michael Pena, David Dastmalchian, and Tip “T.I.” Harris respectively). He has a good relationship with his ex-wife Maggie and her husband Paxton (Judy Greer and Bobby Cannavale also returning to their roles).
His biggest issue is the house arrest and ankle bracelet that comes with his probation, but even then, FBI Agent Woo (new comer Randall Park from Fresh off the Boat) isn’t exactly the worst thing that’s ever happened to him. Hope and Hank (Evangeline Lilly and Michael Douglas also returning to their roles) are not so fortunate. They are on the run from authorities for refusing to turn over any of the Ant-Man and shrinking technology but they have to bring Scott back to the fold to help with their most important mission ever: rescue Hank’s wife and Hope’s mother Janet Van Dyne.
In this film Janet Van Dyne is played by film icon Michelle Pfeiffer (Grease 2, Batman Returns, Dangerous Minds, and What Lies Beneath). Also joining the cast are Hannah John-Kamen (Game of Thrones, Ready Player One) as Ghost, a skilled thief and assassin with the ability and curse to phase through solid objects, who also wants Pym’s tech to help stabilize her fragile condition. And the other film icon joining the cast is Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix Trilogy, Othello, Boyz n the Hood) as Dr. Bill Foster, a former colleague of Hank Pym from his days at SHIELD.
Ant-Man and The Wasp really revels in the shrinking and growing aspect of the Ant-Man Tech in ways that just scratched the surface in the first Ant-Man. Hank and Hope have a giant building that they can collapse like a piece of luggage but expands to a building like you would find in the industrial parts of San Francisco. And speaking of SF, the film is back in the city by the bay which is known for some memorable cinematic car chases. Steve McQueen in his mustang in 1968’s Bullitt. Nic Cage stealing a Ferrari to chase Sean Connery in a Hummer as they destroy several SF city blocks in The Rock. And now Ant-Man and The Wasp takes to the streets of San Francisco in a car chase that uses the shrinking/growing technology to evade and take out their pursuers which makes for one of the most fun car chase sequences I have seen in years. And the car chase is not the only action this film levels up in. In the first Ant-Man and Civil War, we saw that Scott Lang had some moves but wasn’t a real fighter.
Enter Hope Van Dyne as The Wasp. Evangeline Lilly and her stunt double prove that women really have the best fight choreography in the Marvel films. The mixture of her physical combat moves and the shrinking/growing special effects make for some of the most stylish, creative and engaging cinematic fight scenes. A new fighting style is also shown in Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost with her phasing through solid objects and people. Ghost’s mastery over the phasing ability is yet another great visual mixing the physical combat with stylish effects. And the ultimate display of this comes when both Scott and Hope take on Ghost in the third act of the film in which we see all three characters use their powers and skills in a great three-way fight. All in all Ant-Man and The Wasp is a real special effects extravaganza that uses the effects as a way to contribute to the fun and comedy of the film.
Good old fashion summer blockbuster perfectly describes Ant-Man and the Wasp. All of the fun comedic aspects from the first Ant-Man (yup even Luis’ storytelling) return, which provides a nice light fare to cool down from the intense devastation of Avengers Infinity War. That being said, there is a mid and post credits sequence that tie into Avengers Infinity War that may actually help set up what comes in the next Avengers film. But until May 2019, or March 2019 for Captain Marvel, chill out with fun adventure that is Ant-Man and The Wasp.
Run out and get your tickets now! You’ll definitely want to see this fun Summer Marvel film!
Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP is in theatres everywhere now!
Also check out this featurette featuring both Paul Rudd (“Ant-Man”) and Evangeline Lilly (“The Wasp”) talking about the film below:
Welcome!
Comments