At the last D23 Expo (2013) a group of friends and I were talking about how will Marvel keep changing the game with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and avoid superhero burnout from just too many superhero films. I suggested that they just need to tell stories that fit the various genres of film already out there, the political thriller (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), the space opera (Guardians of the Galaxy) and now the comedy (Ant-Man). But does the comedy work? Read the review and find out.
We are immediately introduced to a younger Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) whose particle research is highly sought after by S.H.I.E.L.D. and wait until you see the two characters from the MCU that are here! I want to spoil it but you really should be surprised!
Then we shift to San Quentin and meet Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) who is being released from prison. We also learn that he has a daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson) and a very disapproving ex Maggie (Judy Greer).
Scott's former cellmate Luis (Michael Pena) picks him up from prison. Luis is definitely a scene stealer. Luis wants Scott to do one more heist but Scott refuses as he wants to keep his nose clean and reconnect with his daughter.
Scott finds a suit during the heist and takes it with him. Curiosity gets the better of Scott and he tries on the suit only to find that it shrinks him down to the size of an ant.
It turns out the heist was all part of the vision of Dr. Hank Pym to make Scott the new Ant-Man. Pym along with his daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) train Scott in how to get the most from his suit.
They are training Scott because Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), who Pym was once the mentor to, is now running Pym Technologies and has come up with his own suit. Pym is afraid that this new suit will fall into the wrong hands.
Now the battle for supremacy is on. Who will win?
The film never takes itself too seriously as the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe tends to do. It works because it never loses sight of what it is - simple and at times silly.
But the last of the two end credit tags return you into the serious world that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is set in. I won't spoil anything but as always, it's all connected and is leading us into the next Marvel adventure, Captain America: Civil War.
Ant-Man is Marvel showcasing a film that is never boring, laugh-out loud funny and still has warmth and heart. I cannot wait to see Ant-Man at least one more time on the big screen.
Ant-Man is in theaters July 17th.
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