I
personally feel that the MCU treatment of Ant-Man was long overdue. The Hank
Pym version of Ant-Man had been a founding member of The Avengers along with
his wealthy socialite girlfriend (later wife) Janet Van Dyne (aka The Wasp).
While the
new version changes a lot it also doesn’t ignore the origin. Hank Pym was the
first man to discover the ability to shrink himself to the size of an ant and
communicate with the insects and also was married to Janet who shared his missions
and shrunk herself.
In the
comics the role of Ant-Man went to ex con Scott Lang, and that’s what happens
in this film.
The film is fun, I hadn’t realised just how
much fun until I rewatched it. Some of this stems from the fact that lead actor
Paul Rudd is a comedian and had a hand in the writing.
Paul Rudd
played the title character, and he did with a great sense of humour and plenty of
comedy, to be expected with his background, but never overdone.
The big
name of Michael Douglas played Hank Pym and he did a great job. He made an
excellent elder statesman, was always believable and I liked his tough love mentor
role.
Lost and
The Hobbit star Evangeline Lilly was cast as Hope Van Dyne, and she does a good
job with both the physicality of the role and the gradual relationship with
Scott.
Scott’s
former cell mate Luis is also played with plenty of humour by Michael Pena, who
while he is well known for serious roles was great as the fast talking Luis.
Chief
amongst the villains was Corey Stoll as Hank’s former protégé Darren Chross.
Bobby
Cannavale appeared in a rare turn as someone who wasn’t totally bad. His
character of cop and Scott’s ex-wife’s fiancé Paxton was a thorn in Scott’s
side, but was essentially a good person doing what he saw as his job.
There were
cameos from Hayley Atwell as an aged up Peggy and John Slattery as Howard Stark
again. Stan Lee’s cameos seem to be getting smaller as he gets older, this time
he was a bartender in one of Luis’ stories. Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson also appears.
Peyton Reed
was another one of the MCU’s left field directing choices, but he seemed to
work and had a good light touch for the film.
I have to
admit that I really liked this one. It was probably the sort of action super
hero comedy that audiences needed after the overly serious and disappointing Age
of Ultron.
Post credit
sequences hint at two things: Hope will become The Wasp and Scott is going to
be called into service with The Avengers.
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