Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania

 This review may contain spoilers!

 

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the third Ant-Man film and the thirty first Marvel Cinematic Universe feature. In this film, Scott Lang and his family find themselves accidentally transported to the Quantum Realm where the must work against the might tyrant, Kang the Conqueror, in order to return home. I have really loved watching Scott Lang over the years, regardless of the fact that his films might not be the top of the Marvel pile, he has consistently proven to be one of my favourite heroes. Scott Lang is a charismatic and charming figure, but more than that he is a family figure who often fights from a place of love. Seeing how his relationship has matured with his now teenage daughter is actually quite well done, you could very easily have created some devastating rift here but you just get a pair who lift one another up and make each other stronger. That's great, that's consistent and heartfelt character relationship writing. Scott Lang is also constantly quoted as being the type of hero who stands up for the little guy, and that's no comedic quip. In this feature we really get delivered some exceptional alien worldbuilding with the Quantum Realm, the Freedom Fighters who live there and Kang the Conqueror, who rules it all. Watching this film turn into a clever, fun sci-fi struggle between these freedom fighters and this arrogant despot is a real ride worth the time.

Peyton Reed has improved a lot with filming action sequences and visual effects, all of which are really captured in such a colossal and gripping way. The visual effects seen throughout the feature are actually really impressive given there's barely a shot without some aspect of them. The design of the Quantum Realm is really varied and unique, it actually engages you because the environment and creatures are just so fascinating. The fact that this then translates to really dazzling action sequences that have a much larger scale than anything previously done in an Ant-Man film is a real treat.

 

Paul Rudd, who played Scott Lang, has led these films brilliantly for a long time now; the way he can play a loveball goofball one moment and a father brimming with love the next easily makes him a worthy protagonist. Evangeline Lilly, who played Hope Van Dyne, wasn't especially well utilised in the film but she did great with what she had; Lilly's strength is that she has always genuinely felt like a tough protector or more of a classic superhero type than Rudd's Scott. Michael Douglas, who played Dr. Hank Pym, is a lot more jovial and relaxed in this film which was really nice character progression; yet watching Douglas absolutely chew the scenery and stun with some cool moments in the final act was great. Jonathan Majors, who played Kang the Conqueror, delivered lines like he was weaving a beautiful silk tapestry; Majors fed his character anger to the point that he grew more wild the more that was unleashed. Kathryn Newton, who played Cassie Lang, is a delightful debut to watch; the way she threw herself into danger to help others in spite of her inexperience felt like lovely character progression from what we've seen of younger Cassie. Bill Murray, who played Lord Krylar, might not have been the most necessary character but he had a great scene; watching Murray riff off Pfeiffer and Douglas was a ton of fun and he was quite believeable as the shifty intermediary. Katy M. O'Brian, who played Jentorra, is one of the toughest roles in the feature; O'Brian comes off as both noble and utterly intimidating. David Dastmalchian, who played Veb, is definitely one of the comedic heights of the film; Dastmalchian brings a real quirky performance to this alien role. Corey Stoll, who played M.O.D.O.K., is effortlessly hilarious as the more comedic counterpart to Majors' Kang; the way Stoll finds himself back to a much more unravelled and not at all with it Darren Cross is a fantastic time. 

However, the best performance came from Michelle Pfeiffer, who played Janet Van Dyne. I loved seeing Pfeiffer as the original Wasp in the last film but this time she really gets the room to run. The start of the film we see someone who has really grown contented being back with her family but at a few points she grows quite anxious and cagey. The moment we enter the Quantum Realm Pfeiffer just ups everything up beyond expectations. Suddenly Janet turns into this very guarded yet driven character, a woman who has experience surviving in this terribly treacherous world. Watching her reveal her secrets with shame but also tremendous fear really drives home the strength of the main antagonist. In fact, Pfeiffer's work sets up Kang just as much as Majors' does. Watching her rally as this fighter who resists and kicks back against this frankly terrifying individual is a treat and a solid performance.

The film is incredible fast paced most of the time which means when it slows you really notice it. I was most inconvenienced by the film when characters gathered to have a long exposition conversation, I often found these moments interesting but they came at odd intersecting moments and rambled on for a little long. The final act is also filled with long stretches of talking and jokes that intrude on otherwise captivating action and character moments. MODOK is a prime example of this, he was a really fun minor antagonist but the redemption arc laid out for him wasn't necessary even if it was humourous.

 

I also was surprised to dislike Christophe Beck's score, it was the usual blockbuster fanfare but it really failed to deliver key themes that stayed with you. 

William Jackson Harper, who played Quaz, just looks disinterested or tired most of the time; I really found Harper to have quite a limited range that didn't make him stand out much. James Cutler, who played Xolum, made for a cool special effect but not so much a cool performance; Cutler really gave Xolum nothing to make notable or interesting as one of the many resistance fighters.

It might not be the best film Marvel has ever put out but the family at the heart of this film and the incredible Quantum Realm world makes this a feature worth viewing. I would give Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania a 7.5/10.