Re-Visiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Ant-Man and the Wasp

 "Ant-Man and the Wasp" (2018)

When "Ant-Man" was released, it was pretty obvious that Hope van Dyne and her transformation into the next Wasp would be front and center whenever a second "Ant-Man" was made. That was confirmed when Marvel, Kevin Feige and director Petyon Reed announced the title of the second movie based on the shrinking superheroes. Since it was being released right after the game changing, "Avengers: Infinity War," everyone was curious what was going to happen to Scott Lang, Hope Van Dyne, Hank Pym et. al.

Principal photography on "Ant-Man and the Wasp" began in August 2017 and ended in November 2017. The film stars Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne/The Wasp, Michael Peña as Luis, Randall Park as Jimmy Woo, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr/Ghost, Walton Goggins as Sonny Burch, Judy Greer as Maggie, Bobby Cannavale as Jim Paxton, David Dastmalchian as Kurt, Tip "T.I." Harris as Dave, Laurence Fishburne as Bill Foster, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym and Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet van Dyne. The film was written by Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari. It was directed by Peyton Reed. "Ant-Man and the Wasp" was released on July 6, 2018.

THE WASP... and Ant-Man

We were left in tatters at the end of "Avengers: Infinity War." Every Marvel fan was just one ball of raw nerves. The Infinity Saga was getting ready to wrap up and though we knew the dusted characters would be back, with the final film in the decade long saga on the horizon, we knew that not everyone was going to make it into the next phase, even if/when Thanos was defeated. What we needed after all that heavy emotion was something fun. Something light. Something that had giant ants playing the drums an eating cereal while wearing an ankle monitor. We needed more of Paul Rudd's special kind of every man superhero comedy. And this time, he's not the only one shrinking and growing and zipping around bopping bad guys.

I don't want to call "Ant-Man and the Wasp" a palate cleanser, because that implies that "Avengers: Infinity War" was bad or lackluster, and it definitely wasn't that. It is sort of a mood changer. It's saying, hey everyone! Remember those super fun, whimsical movies that we've been making, we still do that even if things are looking a little bleak in the main story. It really is exactly what was needed. A light, fun, funny popcorn movie with bad guys crashing into enlarged salt shakers.

Ant-Man may get top billing in the title but this movie absolutely belongs to Evangeline Lilly and Hope van Dyne. She was a highlight of the first film and it is awesome to see her fully embrace her destiny by taking up her mother's mantle and become the new Wasp. Where Scott was sort of figuring things out as he went along being Ant-Man, Hope proves what she was telling Hank the entire first film. She was ready for this. Every fight scene, car chase scene, the Wasp is fully in control. It's thrilling to watch her take down bad guys with ease, shape changing as needed, just being a full bad ass. Lilly and Rudd still have amazing chemistry and it is great that the movie wastes no time in pairing them back up.

It's a Ghoooossstt.  Woooo.

Rudd is still kind of the lovable doofus that you remember from his previous appearances. Rudd has this goofy charm that is so endearing and it's awesome to see Lang doing the right thing, being a great dad to Cassie, getting his security consulting business up and running with Luis et. al. Douglas continues to be his crotchety best as Hank Pym. We get some new facets of Hank's personality in this film as he searches for and eventually comes face to face with Janet. It's a good look and helps flesh Hank out more. But don't worry, he's still a condescending prick as evidenced by his scenes with Laurence Fishburne's Bill Foster. Fishburne decides that it is time to be in superhero movies that are actually good, jumping ship from the DC Murderverse to the MCU. In the comics, Bill Foster is another shape changing hero named Goliath and the film adheres pretty closely to his comic roots. I love seeing these SHIELD founders come together and learning more about the organization and how it has evolved. Also, whatever they are using to de-age actors whether it is computer or make up effects, maybe both, is on point. You can't tell me that Michelle Pfeiffer didn't look straight out of "Batman Returns" in that opening sequence.

The cast of this film, like most Marvel movies, is top notch. Judy Greer and Bobby Cannavale are back and I love this new dynamic. They really are a nice blended family. Michael Peña's fast talking Luis is back and though they risk running it into the ground his storytelling trick is employed well here with the assistance of some truth serum. We also have Randall Park's Jimmy Woo (currently killing it in "WandaVision") being his awkward, handsome charming self. 

We have to give special props to the goddess herself, Michelle Pfeiffer. I love her. She is the only Catwoman and it makes sense that she is in the MCU, playing a legendary member of SHIELD and one of the founding Avengers in the comics. Janet is not in the film very much, but she is the emotional heart and Pfeiffer brings so much gravitas to her scenes. I'm excited for more of her in the just announced third Ant-Man/Wasp film, "Quantumania." 

Meow... wait.

I am sure I mentioned this during my revisit of "Ant-Man" but I love things where people shrink so I'm never not going to be giddy watching these movies. They really amp it up here and it's great. I love the Hot Wheels case full of cars they can miniaturize and embiggen as needed. The building they can pull like a suitcase. With "Captain America: Civil War," we also now have the giant technology so that helps change up the action sequences. I don't care who you are you have to love a giant Pez dispenser in the middle of the road during a serious, action movie car chase. If you didn't love it, then you probably need to get checked for a personality and you definitely are zero fun and I don't want to be friends with you. Speaking of that car chase, it is awesome and the shrinking and embiggening really adds to it. It was giving me "Bullitt" vibes and that isn't a bad thing.

Sadly, "Ant-Man and the Wasp" reintroduces the MCU's villain problems. Neither, Walton Goggins' Sonny Burch or Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost are particularly compelling. I can appreciate Ghost's sympathetic back story and her relationship with Bill is heartwarming, but it's all kind of a big meh. She does escape at the end so maybe they will develop that more in the third film. Or maybe they will just ignore it all together. Either way, I'm good.

The mid credits scene catches us up to "Avengers: Infinity War," with the Snap happening at a really bad time for Scott. He's in the Quantum Realm when Janet, Hope and Hank are all dusted. It's not great for ole Scotty. The post credits scene is just a fun shot of the giant ant playing drums.

Let's be real, "Ant-Man and the Wasp" doesn't re-invent the wheel. It's not a game changer. It's a more than competent, super fun, pretty funny popcorn film. And that is great.

Next up, the MCU finally gets it's act together and releases it's first female led film with "Captain Marvel."

Are there any "Ant-Man and the Wasp" diehards out there? Is it anyone's favorite MCU film? Let me know in the comments.