The wait is over for Ant-Man’s return and in this adventure turns out to be an extension of Captain America Civil War where Scott Lang had suited up to help America’s top crusader. Fans of the hero who can change his size will be treated to a long and drawn out rescue that will find him teaming up with a strong willed lady called Wasp. It continues to be a fun franchise, but it also has a droning downside with a musical score that’s without the energy to make the adventure exciting.
After his return from “Civil War”, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) finds himself under house arrest since he sided with Captain America. He’s now caught up in daily life of being a father of an inquisitive daughter. She loves that he’s Ant-Man, but fears for his safety and suggests that he pair up with someone who could be a good partner. You could almost see a cry out for a mother in her life, but hopefully that may happen in “Ant-Man 3”.
It’s not long after the father daughter conversation that Scott, who was also directed to get rid of his suit and not contact Dr. Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), gets a visit from the scientist and his daughter. In 1989 Hope’s mother went missing inside the quantum realm during a mission. Since Ant-Man had recently been in the quantum realm and saw Janet van Dyne, they want Scott so they can check his memory as to her location. It’s the beginning of an adventure that will team Ant-Man with Wasp as they come face to face with the villain Ghost.
Director Peyton Reed takes on the duties of creating Ant-Man a second time in this sequel that has as many action scenes as the first. It’s a thrill ride with most every character in the first reprising their roles. The writers insert a lot of comical dialogue and scenes during the fast paced film with Paul Rudd giving his best straight faced one-liners. Michael Pena, Walton Goggins and Bobby Cannavale up their game as the members of the X-Con Security Crew, backing up Scott in some wacky ways.
While the actors do their jobs well the movie has a down-side. I don’t know if it was just the print I saw at a screening or that Reed wanted to have the lackluster soundtrack deliberately, but it didn’t work. The film needed high energy, but the music in nearly every scene seemed to drone and drag the movie down. Instead of the driving beats you hear in the trailer for the film, you get humdrum and monotonous. Where was Alan Silvestri (Avengers) or John Debney (Iron Man) or Tyler Bate (Guardians of the Galaxy), better still the musical group that did the soundtrack for the Ant-Man and the Wasp trailer? It’s like watching Honey I Shrunk the Kids on valium. That said, I did enjoy the movie based on the idea, script and all the wonderful computer graphics.
Ant-Man and the Wasp has been rated PG-13 for some Sci-fi action violence. The film is being released in 3D, Dolby Surround 12 Track and IMAX so may want to scope out the film at a theatre playing in those formats for a better experience.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A good sequel that could have been more enjoyable with better sound. (3 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, Walton Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Pfeiffer, Judy Greer, Tip. “T.I.” Harris, David Dastmalchian, Hannah John-Kamen, Abby Ryder Forston, Randall Park.
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some Sci-fi action violence
Running Time: 1 hr. 58 min.
Opening Date: July 6, 2018
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Released in: Standard, IMAX, Dolby Surround 12- Track
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
