Ant-Man and The Wasp Quantumania Review

Here’s my Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania review which is directed by Peyton Reed and stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors, Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer.

Ant-Man is back and he and his family enter a new world of challenge in the Quantum realm with a bigger threat in the form of Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror.

The film’s plot is pretty standard but deviates from what we’re used to seeing for the Ant-Man film which is part heist and part sci-fi. Now its a sci-fi flick with a touch of heist. And because we’re now accustomed to Scott Lang’s hijinks, its easy to pivot to what the film wants to do.

The cast is pretty stacked but I gotta give my hat tip to Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror. Not only is he a physically imposing character on screen, he’s also written to be more than a standard 2D villain.

You knew he was up to no good but he never really shows it; you can’t see it in his face. Even in the softer moments he had with Janet van Dyne in the Quantum Realm trying to get the engine back online, you can’t see his deception or his malice. Although that bit isn’t really fleshed out as what I expected he’s still a good villain and one worthy of getting the Avengers back in 2025. Plus you also have to consider that when he’s not scheming behind people’s backs, he can actually kill a guy with his bare hands.

Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang aka Ant-Man continues to evolve and be a better character. He’s so far off from how we met him back in the first Ant-Man movie and definitely carries an air of maturity in him both as a man, as a father and as a hero. He’s definitely one I’m paying good money to see as sort of a big brother role when the Avengers form once again in 2024 and 2025 for Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

Sadly Evangeline Lilly and Michelle Pfeiffer’s roles take a back seat towards the end for me. Instead of seeing them as bad ass warriors they’re just there. I did like how they continue to hammer the point that Hope is Scott’s partner but I feel like that could have been fleshed out more in the film but it gets mostly shelved. But gotta give credit for the de-aging they did on Janet as well as Hope’s new look and new suit.

Kathryn Newton’s fresh face as Cassie Lang is also something that shows true promise. As the daughter of Ant-Man she’s done a number of things in this film that could be tracked back in her future appearances in the MCU including that ever elusive Young Avengers project. Newton is capable of enough in making us believe that she’s intelligent as well as take after her adoptive grandfather Hank Pym (which I thought was nice and could have a strong impact for the character’s future) plus she’s also showing that she can do whatever her father can do in field and I am already excited to see where they will go with Newton’s Cassie.

Speaking of Hank Pym. I loved every minute of Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym. He’s grumpy and a little self-absorbed but can be cool in more sensitive situations. Plus its nice to see that this Hank is sooooo in love with his wife even after hearing what could be compromising details, he’s still all over her. Plus one of the film’s coolest moments involves him and I am not going to spoil that one. You gotta see the film in IMAX to really enjoy that.

Story

In terms of the story, you can see that Peyton Reed and the rest of the team wanted to do something fresh but they also had a lot of things going on. Some paid off really well while others just sort of fizzled. It also feels like they forgot that they have to end the film already so it tends to feel rushed towards the third act of the film.

You can also see from a mile away what Marvel Studios was planning to do with the movie; turning it into this big introduction piece; or rather a proper introduction piece for Kang the Conqueror who will be taking over the reigns as the MCU’s new threat for Phase 5, 6 and 7. And I feel that they achieved that goal with this movie and even secretly connecting the film to other recently released MCU projects.

Not really a spoiler but I totally hated what they did MODOK here. MODOK was such a cool character in the comics and they totally butchered the character. Marvel’s problematic treatment of their villains continues with “Quantumania” that all I can say. The look was good but still not enough to salvage what could have been an awesome villain for future stories and projects.

The whole point of Kang’s mission also lacked gravitas for me. It was a threat definitely but at the same time it felt like it could have been better or could have been presented better. Like yeah we know the stakes are high when he goes but it doesn’t feel like he was a HUGE threat. Partly because we never did get to see the extent of his powers. Just bits and pieces here and there.

Dialogue and Humor

The dialogue and humor were hit or miss for me. Sometimes the quips landed well and sometimes its only the Marvel geeks who really understood a joke. Still there were a lot of fun moments that this film brings thanks to Paul Rudd who has great comedic timing. I can definitely point out scenes that he may have adlibbed or had a part in developing especially the funny ones. But when “Quantumania” dialogue goes big, they go really big – case in point watch the ending moments with Scott’s dialogue as he’s easily able to tell the terror that’s about to come, his realization in that coming to fruition and then thinking about continuing having a good day.

Visuals

“Quantumania” visuals are outstanding with most of the CGI doing really good. But the one thing that bothered me when I talk visuals for Ant-Man 3 would have to be the look for MODOK. That was some seriously creepy shit. Total nightmare fuel. Maybe that was their intention or maybe not but that face bothers me tremendously.

VERDICT

7/10

Ant-Man wants to go on a brave direction and take off on its own and I gotta give them credit for that. It still has that wonder and amazement for this new world that they are bringing us into but it also feels like they just made the movie to build off the next MCU big bad. Kathryn Newton was a fun new character, Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang has shown more maturity and depth and Kang the Conqueror continues to be pushed just like Roman Reigns before the Tribal Chief gimmick (sorry its a WWE reference) and its working too. Michael Douglas was great here and the story just follows the standard comic book story arc which is fine and dandy. But “Quantumania” also feels rushed towards the end and phoned it. It’s not bad like what RT has it going but it’s not that super good.

Best thing I can suggest is manage your expectation.

It is still a fun ride leaving tiny breadcrumbs of bigger things to come.

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