ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA – Review

So, has it been three months already? A few days more, actually, since we took our last trip into the magnificent Marvel Cinematic Universe with BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER. And as its (most likely) Oscar win looms, we’re taking another trek to that magical place, with a hero we’ve not visited in four years. Oh, and the actual locale is not a foreign land as with the previous flick and last year’s Thor, or the maddening multiverse of Doctor Strange and Spidey. In a few more months we’ll be blasting back to outer space with those Guardians, which leaves us the “opposite destination journey”: inner space. This “area” was a big ‘factor” in the ENDGAME, but it was more of a travel “hub” or station. Luckily we’ve got the perfect pair (along with their family) of tour guides in ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. As Steve Martin used to say, “Let’s get small”.

This new adventure begins with a look back many years to the survival story of Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), who’s trapped in the Quantum Realm. But she’s not alone as she encounters strange “beasties”, creatures, and a somber alien explorer we later learn is Kang (Johnathan Majors). The story abruptly shifts to the present day as Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) basks in the glories and “perks” of being part of the Avengers team that “took out” Thanos. Unfortunately, his day of selfies, high-fives, free lattes, and a book reading/signing is interrupted by a call from jail. His now-teenaged daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) has been taken into lock-up with several social protesters. After bailing her out, the two quarrel on the way to Pym labs to visit Hope (Evangeline Lilly), now the head of the company, and her parents Janet and Hank (Michael Douglas). The shocks keep coming at Scott as he learns that Hank has made a “shrink suit” for Cassie and that she’s made a device that will send messages to the Quantum Realm. The latter news horrifies Janet who tries to shut the machine down. Ah, but something has taken control of it and the quintet is “sucked into” the micro-universe. The Pyms and the Langs are separated as the weird beings and gnarly natives converge on them. We soon learn that they are fighting a long battle with the forces of Janet’s old pal Kang. Our tiny troupe must stop him, along with an old foe, from acquiring a power source that will make Kang the conqueror of this and all realms.

Naturally Rudd brings his always engaging everyman persona to the role of Scott, though we’re treated to a few more “shades’ of the character. In ENDGAME he explored the tragedy of Scott being denied the experience of his daughter’s pre-teen years, which is touched on here as Scott feels he has to “make up” with surprise birthday events. In the Realm Rudd subtly conveys Scott’s repressed panic as he believes that he’s “out of his pay grade” in dealing with the unpredictable denizens and an intimidating master villain. And Majors is truly menacing and compelling as Kang, who treats Scott and his team as though they were indeed insects he must swat aside in order to complete his destiny. His near-robotic line delivery enhances his threats with an aura of banal evil, making his later enraged outburst even more volatile. Once again Lilly proves to be a terrific partner for Rudd as they come together in battle and scientific strategy to forge an inspired MCU team. Almost matching them are Pfieffer and Douglas as “point one” of the duo, who truly “come through” during the darkest moments. Douglas is still the blunt, but lovable mentor while Pfieffer’s Janet seems to be haunted as the Realm triggers her past despair. Newton, a new addition to the series, pushes past the “annoyed teen” cliches to become a pupil of her pop’s (they bond over times “in the joint”) and a valued ally. Speaking of allies, a couple of the Realm’s freedom fighters shine, namely William Jackson Harper (TV’s “The Good Place”) as an alien whose “enhanced ability” is more of an annoyance at times, and the dynamic Katy M. O’Brian as warrior queen Jentorra, who’s often irritated but always hyper-focused and fiercely formidable (like an entire squad of Wakandan elite guards). I won’t spoil the entertaining returnee to the series, but, since he’s in the trailer, I can attest that Murray almost steals the show in an extended cameo role.

Many folks complain that franchises begin to repeat themselves as they spawn new installments. Now that’s something that Mr. Feige and the MCU have dodged by upping the stakes and the action in this third outing. I’m not sure if this completely works for the devoted fanbase of what had been called a minor Marvel character. Mind you, the 2015 and 2018 were basically “caper flicks’ with Scott and his motley crew trying to pull off a “heist” while dealing with enhanced adversaries (plus the necessary “origin” in the first). While there’s a great rapport with the expanded family in this, I missed the “Lang crew” of T.I. ‘s Dave, David Dastmalchian as Kurt, and especially Michael Pena’s Luis (can you imagine him describing the Realm’s critters). Ditto for Scott’s ex Maggie (Judy Greer) and her new beau Paxton (Bobby Cannavale). Though the hero’s powers seem sillier than other Marvel heroes, Scott’s seemed the most human and “grounded”. But things are more “cosmic” here, reportedly at the request of veteran director Peyton Reed, so after an endearing and funny opening of Scott enjoying his celebrity perks, we’re plunged literally, into the furious fray. There’s still lots of humor (love that “pink goo” guy), though the shifting backdrops and hordes can be disorienting. That’s not to say that it’s done poorly, since this adventure seems even stranger than last year’s STRANGE WORLD. Plus there are lots of cool visuals riffs with multiplying clones and towering golden cities (overrun with Kang’s blue “fishbowl-head” armies). Still, the final showdown feels a bit truncated and the pre-end titles fadeout gag lands with a thud (on average first-time feature screenwriter Jeff Loveless “nails” the landings). As usual, the bonus scenes are fun, particularly the final. Sure this one’s more visually dazzling, but it’s at the cost of the light-hearted hijinks of the first two. Luckily there’s still plenty of wit and charm with “the little guys (and ladies)” of ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA.

3 Out of 4

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA is now playing in theatres everywhere.