A review of “Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania”
This is the third Ant-Man movie and the 31st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Over the past 15 years, I’ve diligently seen every episode of the MCU, but sometimes – like here – it feels more like a duty than a delight.Paul Rudd and (now short-haired) Evangeline Lilly are back as the tiny titular superheroes, while Michael Douglas and (the ever watchable) Michelle Pfeiffer reprise their roles as the original holders of the eponymous titles. But now we have a plethora of other characters in play, including Kathryn Newton as a third superhero, Bill Murray as minor bad guy Lord Krylar, and Jonathan Majors as major bad guy Kang the Conqueror.
Visually the best part of the movie is a tour of the Quantum Realm revealing a host of weird and wonderful life forms (including one that looks like a bunch of broccoli), many of which are observed in a piece inspired by the cantina scene in the original “Star Wars”.
However, the opening is plain silly: apparently one can simply be sucked into the Quantum Realm five at a time thanks to the fiddling of a teenager. Then the plot is very weak: basically Kang has to be prevented from rebuilding his multiversal power core that will enable him to depart the Quantum Realm and travel anywhere in time or anywhere in the multiverse causing all sorts of havoc.
Two clips in the course of the endless credits suggest that nothing is actually resolved and all the main characters will be back for more mayhem. Scriptwriter Jeff Loveness has a background in comedy and has produced a storyline that is pityingly thin and a tone that lack any sense of dread.