Director: Peyton Reed
Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, Evangeline Lilly, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer
Synopsis: Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burgular Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Alright, a bit behind the times on this review, I went on opening weekend and it's taken me a couple of weeks to get my butt into gear to pen this review, and although most of you have probably all seen this, I wanted to put my two-cents out there anyway.
I, along with plenty of other people, weren't convinced that ANT-MAN was the right choice for the next MCU film, although Ant-Man was one of the original Avengers in the comic book universe, he is much lesser known in the wider world of superhero appreciation. I also had some concerns regarding where they were picking up the Ant-Man story...the origin of the suit of Ant-Man is not covered and picks up a good 40 or so years after the suit is developed. You get a tiny glimpse in the first few minutes of the origin of the suit and then we pick up in current day with a much older Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and our soon to be hero Scott Lang (Paul Rudd). The concerns I had about all those things disappated fairly quickly into the film, and that made me happy.
Scott Lang discovers the suit
image via Marvel Studios
ANT-MAN is exactly what Marvel need right now. The only variation from their standard formula in a while, ANT-MAN is stripped back, down to earth, funny and with real world things at stake. It's not going to be a huge money making machine for Marvel, but for me, it's right up there with the cream of the crop of the MCU films. It has a slightly more realistic take on super heroes and villains, and yes, what Ant-Man acheives by the end of the film does in theory save the world, it's not in a high end, city-being-destroyed fashion. ANT-MAN is subtle, humourous and much more relateable than some of the earlier MCU films, and I liked it. There are still some very 'Marvel' characteristics about ANT-MAN - the villain has equal power to the hero, there is still a love interest, there are plenty of fight scenes - but it is essentially a heist movie, with some humour, fight scenes and serious kitsch thrown in.
The casting is wonderful, Paul Rudd is perfect for the role of Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, funny, charming, attractive, and yet unassuming, awkward and not super doooper buff. I'm a pretty huge fan of Paul Rudd, but I would tell you if I thought he was rubbish, but he wasn't, in fact I think he's a perfect fit for the Ant-Man character. Michael Douglas was an interesting choice for Dr. Hank Pym, and I would seriously like to congratulate the make-up artist who made Michael Douglas look like he was 20-something again! Cudos to you my friend, that is some talent you have got going on there! I forgot how much I actually liked Michael Douglas until I saw him in ANT-MAN, he's got good comedic timing and seems not to take the film too seriously which is a benefit to the film and to the role he is playing. The supporting cast in this film is well put together, and it is an instance of a true supporting cast - no one outshines anyone else, and they all have a great on screen chemistry.
Scott Lang and Hank Pym discussing the science of the suit
image via Marvel Studios
The cinematography and fight scenes are really well done, seemingly normal environments become extreme fight scene settings the instant Ant-Man shrinks down. A computer server room is a veritable array of high rise towers, the backyard is an extreme jungle setting, Thomas the Tank Engine is the equivalent of a giant freighter that would squash you in an instant. It's funny and refreshing, and the tiny fighting was thought to be all too hilarious by the Red Haired Amazona's sonofagun #2 (age 6) who couldn't get over how hilarious it was when a tiny ant was increased to the size of a golden retriever.
Ant-Man heading into battle through the carpet jungle
image via Marvel Studios
All in all, I think ANT-MAN was refreshing and hilarioius while still fulfilling all the requirements of a great superhero movie. If you haven't already I recommend spending the 20-something dollars on a ticket and seeing it on the big screen. And, as if you don't already know this about a Marvel film, stay all the way to the very end of the roll credits for a sneak peak at the next installment. There are two sneak peaks in ANT-MAN - one at the end of the graphic credits, and one at the end of the roll credits, so make sure you stay for both.
4 out of 5
xoxo
The Blonde Bombshell
No comments:
Post a Comment