Robert Bouffard
Student Writer
Ant-Man and the Wasp is the first Marvel movie to be released after Infinity War. So to say that it had big shoes to fill is an understatement. Taking into account at Ant-Man’s size, this shoe filling wasn’t looking promising.
“I hope they remember you”
This is a watchable and enjoyable movie – it isn’t great and it isn’t terrible. But unfortunately, after some time passes, I think it will be mostly forgotten. There really isn’t any standout action sequence or set piece. But the humor is there, the way it is with every other Marvel movie. Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lily also have excellent chemistry and are able to play off one another very well.
In fact, this movie may have had a more accurate title if it was called The Wasp and Ant-Man. Lily steals every action scene that she is in and is mostly the reason the biggest missions get done. But Rudd’s heart and humor are still what carry the film at its core. Fortunately, we don’t need to decide who was more important. Because after all, they’re both titular characters and both are important to the story.
A Marvel first
This is the first Marvel movie that features a female character in the title (The Wasp), and it is fitting. As I previously mentioned, Evangeline Lily has some great action moments. But what is truly special about these moments is how she is a female superhero who is able to hold her own, and even show up her male counterpart. This represents a big step for these movies, as Captain Marvel will be the first female-led tentpole for Marvel before Black Widow also gets her own film.
Other characters
Michael Pena stole the show in the first Ant-Man because of his spot-on comedic timing and naturally charming personality. Now, for the second time in a row, he plays the lovable Luis who tells stories and is afraid of truth serum. Again, he is one of the best parts of the whole movie.
But the one area where this movie really falls short is with the villain. It has been common knowledge for a while now that the Marvel movies have villain problems, but with Vulture (Spiderman: Homecoming), Killmonger (Black Panther), and Thanos (Infinity War), three out of their previous four films had legitimately good villains. What made them so good was either their ideologies/motivations, their connection to the main character(s) or both. Ghost, the villain in Ant-Man and the Wasp, had none of that. She was mostly there just to bring more conflict for the main characters. The positive aspect about her, though, is the same as the positive aspect that having the Wasp as a main character brings. As a character played by a non-white female, Ghost gives the film diversity.
Overall
This movie functions as a decent placeholder until the next Marvel movie. It’s not going to blow anyone away, or be discussed as one of the best movies of the year, but it is perfectly fun and enjoyable. What else could you ask for from a superhero movie?
You can see Ant-Man and the Wasp at Parmer Cinema on Friday, October 19 at 6 and 9 p.m. and Saturday the 20th at 3, 6 and 9 p.m.
Photo retrieved from time.com.