A superhero movie that actually reminds you that this genre is fun and enjoyable for kids? Sign me up hard!
As the cinematic superhero landscape becomes increasingly dominated by complex high profile genre experiments, increasingly dramatic tales of atmospheric intensity, and increasingly convoluted cinematic universe world building, it can become a little too easy to forget that no matter how seriously the imagery of theatrical costumes put into high action scenarios can be taken, the genre ultimately caters to children above all else.
“Ant-Man and the Wasp’s” relatively low stakes, scaled back visuals,
and overall contentment with being a smaller, more intimate and fluffy
character driven heist narrative over the grander ambitions of its Marvel Cinematic
Universe brethren may set it apart from most of its contemporaries in the genre
by being less biting and weighty but it nevertheless manages to be a perfect
specimen of the sincere and fun summer blockbuster family feature that it aims
to be and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Following former burglar turned security advisor Scott Lang
in the final days of his house arrest following his stint with the Avengers in “Captain
America: Civil War,” the titular hero teams up with his titular partner, Hope
Pym, both reprised by Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lily respectively.
The two work together with Hank Pym (Michael Douglass) to
complete an experiment that may save her long lost mother, while capturing the
attention of an entity referred to as Ghost, drawn to the experiment for
personal reasons and aiming to settle a personal score with Hank.
“Ant-Man and the Wasp” has regularly been referred to as a palette
cleanser and especially after the world shattering events of “Avengers:
Infinity War,” the description is not only appropriate but the product itself
is more necessary than ever.
Demonstrating a balance between the serialization of several
franchises for grander meta narrative without sacrificing the unique individual
merits of the properties themselves, the movie has mastered the art of being a
light and fun thrill ride without being disposable just because its stakes aren’t
massive.
Paul Rudd’s perfection of the everyman role furthers Scott
Lang as one of the setting’s most relatable and likable protagonists.
He’s
aware of the fact that he’s in over his head but rolls with the punches,
additionally playing well off of Lily, who makes the most of her admittedly
thin material to show off her chops as a natural action star.
Meanwhile, Hannah
John-Kamen turns in a surprisingly sympathetic and lively take on Ghost whose
motivations and relationship with quantum physicist Bill Foster, played by
Laurence Fishburne, make her less of an outright villain and more of a mere
antagonist.
The show stealer however, surprisingly comes in the form of
Abby Ryder Foston as Scott’s daughter Cassie. Her love for her father was
adorable in the first movie but the hoops he jumps through to be the father
that he deserves and the unabashed pride she’s unafraid to show regarding the
fact that her dad is a superhero provides a genuine human warmth that often
gets forgotten in modern installments of the genre.
Playing on the strength of the character personalities, the
story itself primarily boils down to a series of inventive heist sequences and
chase scenes using the shrinking and enlarging gimmick to its practical advantage
and while you wouldn’t be wrong for wondering if such a gimmick’s novelty would
wear thin after a while, the usage of the effects never becomes excessive and
only serve to highlight a series of set pieces that are astonishingly well
choreographed to the benefit of action filmmaking and even for humorous effect.
This is a movie that knows its place. Unlike the event of a
lifetime accomplishment of something like “Infinity War,” or the cultural
phenomenon of “Black Panther,” this movie’s only real aim is to satisfy families
with a fun Saturday Matinee.
8 Coming Infinity War Obliterations out of 10
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