Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michael Peña, John Slattery, Corey Stoll, Hayley Atwell, Judy Greer, Anthony Mackie, Martin Donovan, Tip “T.I.” Harris., Lyndsi LaRose, Wood Harris, Abby Ryder Fortson, Jordi Mollà, Gregg Turkington, Carlos Aviles
Running Time:
Rating: 12A
Release Date: July 17th, 2015
Marvel Studios have become cinematic giants over recent years with its hit films AVENGERS, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY and IRON MAN and now it’s time for the smaller of their heroes to try and make his mark: ANT-MAN. It is difficult to recall any other Marvel film which has been greeted with such skepticism from its concept alone. One could be forgiven for not seeing how this Marvel character would succeed in a movie, but also the film is known for the director that left it — HOT FUZZ’S Edgar Wright — rather than the one that made it. With the departure of Wright and the reservations surrounding the impact it would have on the big screen, many like myself may have braced themselves for a rather unfulfilling viewing.
How very wrong I was.
ANT-MAN initially kicks off in a rather dark and violent fashion, with Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) in prison, about to receive a bit of a kicking from a hefty gang — then we discover it’s all just a leaving ritual and he’s among friends. A clever opening that basically sets the tone for the mood and plot that follows. Scott Lang, a cat burglar fresh out of prison just wants to make enough money for child support so he can reignite his relationship with his estranged young daughter, Cassie. Gaining employment is tough and nobody is willing to hire him, so Lang finds himself lured back to crime by his friend Luis (brilliantly played by the hilarious Michael Peña who is a real scene stealer).
Whilst burgling a house with an unbreakable safe, Lang finds a suit that — yes, you guessed it! — shrinks him down to the size of an ant. Soon he experiences significant shrinkage as Marvel’s latest hero finds himself getting trained by both Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), the genius creator of the suit, and Pym’s daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly). The suit’s shrinking technology has been copied by Pym’s former protégé and Hank needs Lang to pull off a daring heist and prevent a deadly militarised version of the Ant-Man suit (dubbed the Yellowjacket) from wreaking havoc and to keep the technology from falling into the wrong hands.
ANT-MAN is the smallest MCU outing so far, not only with regards to the size of the character, but in terms of its scope and storyline. Director Peyton Reed plays it out as a lively heist romp that avoids the standard issue giant-object-crashes-into-a-city blockbuster finale. It is a much better film than its predecessor AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON as this film is narratively tighter and sets a unique and workable tone.
With Rudd and ANCHORMAN’s Adam McKay on scripting duties reworking the story after Edgar Wright left the project, they’ve constructed a movie that knows just how skeptical people are going to be, and they get around the problem by poking fun at nearly every major trope we’ve come to expect from superhero movies. ANT-MAN succeeds in putting comedy first, throwing in flippant one-liners along with incredible sci-fi visuals.
An example of subtle comedy ensues between what could be a genre splitting, emotional scene between Dr. Pym and his daughter, which is suddenly cut short after Lang’s awkward interruption. Perfect! Lang’s physical training for his new found role is hilarious as we see him as nothing short of terrible as he tries to work the suit, and perhaps the most brilliantly hilarious part – the showdown between Ant-Man and his nemesis. There are no cover-the-eyes epic battle scenes here – the action is superbly intercut between a furious micro battle across a railroad and macro shots of a toy Thomas the Tank Engine casually choo-chooing along train tracks. It increases in size (along with an innocent ant) and ends up flying out of the roof of the house. Bonkers!
It is utterly bonkers, but it works so well.
It has the concept of a heist movie, but in reality ANT-MAN is hands down pure comedy about a regular guy trying to change his life and as it turns out, the world. The fact that he is a different kind of hero – an accidental hero – to those of Thor and Captain America is what makes the scripting and the film itself such a success.
Paul Rudd is the lovable unlikely hero, who like most of his comedic roles, is so superior in delivering a goofy, nice-guy sentimentality. Whether he was delivering a classic one-liner, or sharing a hilarious moment with the brilliant Michael Peña, whose motor-mouthed con artist Luis is a particular highlight, he and his fellow cast members are able to bring so much joy and laughter to the film, which is not always such a regular feat in a superhero movie.
Rudd, Peña, Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly‘s kick-arse characters are definitely a big hit, but credit should definitely go to the director Peyton Reed. It is true he is no stranger to sitting in the director’s chair for comedic films such as BRING IT ON and TV shows like NEW GIRL, but his intoxicating blend of comedy and action while still making characters such as Evangeline Lilly’s Hope shine is not always easy to achieve – unless you are Peyton Reed.
ANT-MAN will no doubt like GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY enjoy great offbeat success and they are certainly showing how Marvel can pave a new way to touch on the seemingly ridiculous yet make it so much fun. Comic book movies that are fun. Who’d have thought?
Perhaps the only slight downfall with the film is via the main villain – it is hard to imagine him being as popular as Marvel’s Loki. Tom Hiddleston‘s ultimate mischievous bad guy has garnered as much love and support as Chris Hemsworth‘s Thor. Unfortunately, Corey Stoll‘s Darren Cross doesn’t quite live up to the adorably menacing Loki.
ANT-MAN is a superbly written, enticingly well-delivered science-fiction and action-heist comedy hit. It crosses all genres and all boundaries. Whether you are young or old, boy or girl, a Marvel comic fan or not, you will enjoy this film and have so much fun.
ANT-MAN himself is such a joy to watch and you can’t imagine anyone else in this role other than Paul Rudd. The film may be about a small person, but no doubt it will be a deserving gigantic hit on the big screen. It looks like Marvel will have a brand new favourite super hero.
Verdict
Watch the full Ant-Man press conference featuring Peyton Reed, Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas and Michael Peña.
Missed the Ant-Man European Premiere? Take a look at their red carpet interviews.
