Ant-Man and The Wasp Review

Fun fact: Did you know the Wasp is a founding member of the Avengers, but it only took twenty films for her to finally make her on-screen debut in the MCU. As much as I hate to justify how long it took for Marvel Studios to have a female character take a lead role, this is worth the wait. We first got a little glimpse of the heroine in the first Ant-Man film and a bit of a tease of Hope van Dyne taking up the mantle in a post-credits scene; however, this is the first we witness the Wasp in full on-action and what she is capable of. Let's back track just a little though. Where does this movie fit in the MCU timeline? Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang is placed on house arrest after making a plea deal for violating the Sokovia Accords. Two years have gone by and Scott is almost a free man except he has a strange dream of communicating with Janet (Hope's mom aka the original Wasp). Her last known whereabout was she was trapped in the Quantum Realm. Hank Pym thought she was gone forever, but after Scott returned from the Quantum Realm himself he had hope she'd still be alive and be tracked down. Hank & Hope recruit Scott to help find her, but along the way they come along a new threat: Ghost. She has the ability to phase her cellular molecules and go through objects thus making her a lethal assassin. In a movie that has its fair share of action scenes & laughter it is the perfect film to watch if your heart is still recovering from the aftermath of Infinity War.

Now, let's talk about Evangeline Lilly as Hope van Dyne aka The Wasp. In the first Ant-Man film we see what she's capable of. She can hold her own and gives Black Widow a run for her money. But that's without her suit. Once she puts on the outfit she can probably take on Captain America himself. With the suit Hope is able to fly, shrink, and shoot lasers from her wrist. Put all those features along with her fighting skills and we have an Avenger ready to strike. Evangeline plays her role flawlessly. She stays in character the entire time and we, as the audience, can't help but be excited for what she has planned next. Even though, Wasp has to share the spotlight with Ant-Man not once is she referenced as a side kick, damsel-in-distress, or a second thought. She is given equal screen time and enough scenes to emphasize how important of a character she is. As a vital member of the Avengers in the comics I, personally, hope to see more of her in future films and how she co-exists with the other Avengers.

The film's plot is filled with joys and giggles. There's superheroes with outrageous costumes & powers, villains with a personal agenda, and great references to other features within the MCU. Every chance the film gets there's a joke within the scene. What works for this concept is that it feels natural and not overdone. Then, there's the involvement of familiar faces and some new ones. The big obvious return is Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, but without going too much into detail about what I think of him just check out my review of his performance in the first film. Michael Douglas & Michael Pena return to reprise their roles as Hank Pym & Luis. I will be the first to declare Luis as a MCU treasure. The personality he oozes is toxic and you're sure to smile & laugh with whatever screen time he is given. Especially in his scenes when he is explaining events. They are what entertainment is composed of. Hank Pym also proves that he can deliver a laughing punch or two. For a character that has a serious personality he does show some sass every now & then. It's so out of character that when it happens you instantly notice it. Newcomer Michelle Pfeiffer is introduced as the original Wasp. Despite having a minor role in the film there's no doubt her character has a legacy within the MCU. She fought in a time before the Avengers, a brilliant scientist, and knows secrets about the Quantum Realm that get teased within the film's end. Whether or not we'll see more of the character in future films, her addition in this one showcased the level of importance for the Wasp.

Lastly, there's our main villain: Ava Starr aka Ghost. What makes her role unique is she's a villain but not by choice. As a child, she got in the mix of one of her father's failing projects thus causing her abilities to phase through objects. What some may see as an awesome ability is actually her downfall. It causes her body to slowly decompose and eventually fade into nothing. As a result, she goes through extreme lengths to take the Quantum Realm lab from Hank & Hope to restore her molecular composition. For Ava, she doesn't have an agenda of greed or need for world domination she simply wants to live to see another day. For me, it was hard seeing her as a villain because it totally makes sense her motive and what someone will do to survive. It will be interesting if her character is featured in future films and if she develops the ability to control her powers. I can see her definitely being an asset for the Avengers, especially in their fight against Thanos.

*SPOILERS*

The million-dollar question: how does it connect with the rest of the MCU? In a post-credits scene, Wasp, Hank, and Janet are turned into dust as a result of Thanos' snap. This leaves Ant-Man trapped in the Quantum Realm. Will he escape? Why introduce Wasp only for her to vanish just as fast? What's next? So many questions left unanswered that make fans even that more anxious for Endgame. Ultimately, one has to theorize that the Quantum Realm has to be the answer for the Avengers in their fight against Thanos. It could possibly bring the fallen back. But the only way to find out is to watch Endgame. What could've been a joke of a movie, turns into a comedic masterpiece & give you that much more need to see the next film.

Final Score: 9/10

The second film in the Ant-Man franchise has the same spirit as the first. This means it'll keep you entertained, laughing, and it doesn't take itself so seriously. It's the perfect "desert piece" or "light-weight" filling course to watch after the heavy ending of Infinity War. If anything, it follows the MCU formula of giving a spotlight to Ant-Man & Wasp and makes you wanting more in future films.