Well I was able to see the new MCU film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania a day or two before it gets it’s wide release so I figured I would bring you a spoiler free review of it as you head into the Family Day long weekend. To prepare and not take any chances I watched the Disney+ series Loki as the ending (of Loki) does playing into the multiverse and features what becomes the new ultimate villain for the upcoming two Avengers movies set to come out in 2025 & 2026. This new Ant-Man movie is the first in Stage 5, the 2nd stage out of 3 in the The Multiverse Saga. Watching Loki will give you a quick better understanding to Kang and the back story but ultimately not needed to watch the movie.
This Ant-Man film’s premise is “Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible.”
The movie is a more serious film than Ant-Man movies in the past as it introduces Kang to the MCU in film for the first time. The movie explores and reveals all about Janet’s time in the Quantum Realm and the effects it will have.
When it comes to acting Ant-Man’s strong suits come in the performances of Michelle Pfeiffer and Jonathan Majors (Kang the Conqueror) who deliver the story and really set and show the strengths of Kang plus how dangerous he ultimately could be. While Pfeiffer and Majors performances are the standouts Paul Rudd has a rare dud as the title character and the addition of Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang in a larger role was a complete miss across the board. A returning character from the past was a nice surprise but a huge miss.
The film’s darker attempt with Ant-Man was needed for the story but the attempts to shoehorn in the comedy elements were complete misses. I may have only laughed once or twice throughout the 2 hours film. Ant-Man has the debut of M.O.D.O.K, which was a strange one as it reduces a majorly powerful villain from the comics with the ability to defeat the Avengers to a side kick that fails to bring the comedy which was the design for the movie.
In the end it is a movie to go watch as it is the first big piece towards the Avenger films at the end of Phase 6. I would suggest watching it with tempered expectations going in as it is more of a set up movie for the rest of the Multiverse Saga than a stand alone film like other Ant-Man movies.
Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania does have 2 post-credit scenes, the first is a mid-credit and the other is at the end. The mid-credit will set up more with Kang film wise where as the last one sets up Loki season 2.
Final Grade: 5.5/10
– Everett
