Ant-Man

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
   Ant-Man
Released 7/17/15


Ant-Man.  Ant-Man.  Ant-Man?  When I first heard Marvel Studios was going through with the  development of a feature length film on this character a year ago, my jaw dropped.  Ant-Man was an integral part of the formation of the Marvel Universe from its comic roots, but, even there, over the years the character and his alter ego, Hank Pym, hasn't been a big to do for many years.  And then, there's the concept of Ant-Man.  Who wants to watch a two-hour movie of a hero who basically only shrinks and communicates with insects?  What was Marvel thinking on this one?  There was a reason this character was left out of the Avengers movie despite the fact that comic book-wise, he was a founding member of the team, right?  No one except maybe the staunchest loyalists cares about Ant-Man. 

I had that thought until I saw Marvel Studios release of Guardians of the Galaxy last year.  I didn't expect much out of that film either and it blew me away.  I almost chose it as the best movie of 2014.  In most years it would have been the best movie by far.  If Marvel could strike gold with a group of, at best, C-list heroes with the Guardians, should I really doubt they could make Ant-Man a cool character on screen?  Could lightning strike twice, or is Marvel starting to feel themselves a little bit too much based on their huge success over last several years? 

And the verdict is, if Marvel wants to do a feature film on Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham, I will be at the theater at midnight screaming, "Please, take my money!"  I don't know how it was done, but a character that I was always lukewarm about, at best, was made to be amazing on the big screen.  This movie could have very easily dove into the deep end on cheesy and it didn't come close. Like Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man hits you with equal doses of humor and action that maybe shouldn't work as well as it does, but, it gives you an incredible entertainment experience.  Give all credit to cast and crew on this one. 

The film starts with what I'm sure was a small measured experiment on the studio's part with a pre-credit scene.  Scientist, adventurer, and soldier (to some degree), Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), vehemently resigns from S.H.I.E.L.D. in 1989 after learning the organization has attempted to replicate his shrinking technology.  Believing it to be too dangerous he vows to never let the espionage group or anyone else get their hands on it.  Some familiar names are in this scene with Pym including an older Peggy Carter and Howard Stark.  Pym seems to be especially distrustful of Stark. 

In the present day, good-hearted thief, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), is released from prison.  Wishing not to return to his old criminal life, but, desperate to provide for his young daughter, he's forced into accompanying a former associate and his cohorts to steal from a giant safe located in the home of none other than Hank Pym.  Successfully (and creatively)breaking into the safe, Lang doesn't find money, jewels, or anything seemingly valuable.  All he finds is a strange helmet and leather suit which he takes anyway.

 Little does Lang or his associates know, this whole scenario, including dropping the information about the safe, was all manipulated by Pym.  Hank followed Scott's last highly publicized heist which landed him in prison.  He needs Scott's skills for a heist of his own he's planning.  Hank's former protégé, Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), has solved the riddle of the shrinking tech for a weaponized suit of armor that Cross calls "Yellowjacket."  Knowing his former colleague was already a bit unstable, Hank has his somewhat estranged daughter, Hope (Evangeline Lilly), in place within his organization to monitor his progress and deteriorating mental stability due to use of the shrinking process.  He needs Scott to steal the Yellowjacket armor before Cross can sell it to any unsavory types.  But first, he needs to teach the thief how to use the shrinking tech on the suit he stole, a suit that can be used to control his own private army.  An army of...ants!

As previously stated, there is a fair amount of humor injected in Ant-Man.  There would almost have to be considering that Paul Rudd is the lead.  In addition to the comedy, Rudd is able to pull off dramatic heft when the script calls for it.  And, it was comforting that he took the role very seriously despite the subject matter.  He got in tremendous shape for the role. 

The remainder of the cast does a more than credible job supporting Rudd, although I will say that Darren Cross is a bit of an anti-climactic villain.  Oh, there was nothing wrong with Corey Stoll or his performance.  It's just that in the scale of villains of epic scope in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we've had Loki, Ultron, Ronan, glimpses of Thanos, and now, Yellowjacket? 

The film firmly entrenches Ant-Man in the MCU.  I wondered why Marvel chose Ant-Man of all their upcoming projects to follow Age of Ultron and now I'm beginning to understand why.  The film drops a few subtle and not so subtle hints to what promises to be next year's epic Civil War movie.  I mentioned before that Hank Pym wasn't eager for Howard Stark to possibly get his hands on his technology.  Scott even suggests at one point that they should call in the Avengers for assistance, a suggestion Pym also didn't warm to.  If the architect of the events of AofU were publicized, you can imagine Hank's distrust of the Starks has only increased.  We might at least have a clue as to where Ant-Man will stand during the Civil War.

Some other things for the geeks to, well, geek out on.  There's the mention of "a guy who can walk on walls."  I think we all know who this is a reference to.  We learn that an old Stark Industries warehouse is now the Avengers new compound.  There's a brief, but exciting fight between Ant-Man and the Falcon that showcases both heroes' abilities nicely.

Speaking of fighting, remember how I said that all involved actually made a shrinking hero cool?  Through his constant size changing and martial arts skills taught to him by Hope, Scott has a rather unique fighting style that would make him a tough opponent.  Yes, I did just say that about Ant-Man.  I don't believe I just said it either.

While there have been better movies that have come out of the MCU, Ant-Man is a more than solid entry into it.  I know some may find it a throw away movie sight unseen, but, I encourage all to take the time for one sitting.  The CGI on the ants alone is worth a sitting.  Ant-Man should not be casually dismissed.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***3/4 stars


Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Worth a look.  Better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. I'm doing my happy dance!
5 *= Pure eye candy. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good