Saturday was a busy day. We atrended a funeral in the morning for someone’s father up in Rockland, NY. In the late afternoon, after the interment service at the cemetery, we grabbed some lunch at an Indian restaurant in Teaneck. After finally getting home, we rested for a few hours, then went see Ant-Man in 3D.
Ant-Man (2015) is the latest Marvel film featuring the MCU story of Ant-Man. Not the Hank Pym version precisely, as that character has had a lot of baggage since his appearance in “Tales to Astonish” back in 1962. This is about the 2nd character to play Ant-Man, Scott Lang. I thought it was interesting approach, and ultimately worked. The film actually begins with a flashback to 1989 when Hank Pym enters a S.H.I.E.L.D building and challenges Howard Stark & Peggy Carter for attempting to secretly re-engineer his P
Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a master burgler, as he describes it. He was caught after his last crime, and sentenced to three years in a California prison. Recently released, he’s struggling to get / retain a job, and to see his daughter Cassie. His daughter is currently in the custody of his ex-wife (Judy Greer, and a bit wasted in this role. Incidentally, she also had a minor role in Jurassic World as a mother. Another small role, and she deserves better.)
Meanwhile, the original Ant-Man Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) is an old man now, and in conflict with the man who has taken over Pym Technologies — Darren Cross (played by Corey Stoll.) Although Pym has been hiding Pym Particles (they allow atoms to change size), Darren Cross plans to figure out how to both develop and weaponize Pym Particles.
Hank and his estranged daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) enlist Scott Lang to help them destroy the information within the Pym computer network, and steal the weaponized Pym technology, code – named “Yellow Jacket.”
It may all sound confusing, but it’s all fairly straightforward. The film is pretty enjoyable. It’s certainly going for laughs vs grim dark drama. And while using Pym Technology for evil was important, you didn’t have that “the fate of the world hangs in the balance” that is often used. Honestly, I think we all need a break from world-ending catastrophes.
Did I like this film? Yes. It didn’t move me or anything. I will admittedly say that it didn’t impress me as much as Guardians of the Galaxy last summer, but this was pleasantly entertaining. The funny moments were good, and the supporting cast was good. Especially the ants — they were cool. And there are a number of subtle MCU callbacks, including a cameo from one particular Avenger.
It’s a comic book story, it’s funny and entertaining, and the wife and kids enjoyed it. It’s not a home run, but I’m good with a double or triple once in a while.
Ant-Man (2015)