Ant-Man and the Wasp | Film Review

Hey Guys x

So, here's the latest MCU movie to hit screens. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a definite force to be reckoned with, and with its biggest offerings crushing box office records, it's nice to have these smaller solo-movies to enjoy throughout the year.

It's been two years since the events of Captain America: Civil War, and Scott Lang has been on house arrest. He's been being a good dad, and keeping out of trouble. That is, until Hank Pym and his daughter Hope find their way back into his life. They believe they've found evidence that Hope's mother could still be alive, and if they're going to find her, then they need his help. But with just three days of house arrest left, and a new enemy on their trail, is this going to be their biggest mission yet?

This second instalment of the Ant-Man franchise offers a lighter side of a cinematic universe that in the past year has dealt with heavy topics, up to and including the destruction of half the world. This movie is a breath of fresh air in this complicated world.

The story itself is modern and original. It easily explains why Scott Lang has not been present in any of the movies leading up to it, and leaves the door open for endless possibilities. It also sets itself up in the already established Marvel Universe without relying on the other franchises to carry it. It works alone, and it works as part of the ensemble.

All of the actors, whether they had small or large parts, were extremely necessary. It was great to see the return of some fan favourites (such as Scott's three best friends, now business owners) and it was even greater to see the new faces that really pulled the film together.

One thing that has to be discussed, as this is a superhero movie, is the villain. In many of these films, villains are criticised as either not being fleshed-out enough, or by having bad motivations. However, the villain of this film certainly has a good motivation for the things that she does, and this reason allows us to see and understand her backstory a bit more. While she is someone that the audience may not be rooting, there are some aspects of her personality that make the audience hope that, maybe someway, everyone could get what they want. And that definitely comes from having a villain that isn't just a 2-dimensional 'bad guy'.

The main criticism of this movie is that, while it does most of the right things, it is a story that many fans of the MCU may be less invested in because there are bigger stories before and after that take precedence. So while fans of Scott Lang will be happy to see his progression, it may also be fair to say that many fans of the MCU as a whole care more about other characters, therefore making them less invested in how this story ends.

In addition to this, one of the best parts of the entire film was the 30-second mid-credit scene, as this is the time when you are most invested in the stakes and really want to see more.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this to any superhero fan, as it definitely has a story to tell, and you'll have a lot of fun along the way, whether Scott Lang is your favourite hero or not.

Lou