Just as “Guardians of the Galaxy” was a sci-fi adventure and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” was a spy movie, “Ant-Man” is more than just another superhero flick. At its heart, Ant-Man is really an insect-riddled heist film.
Against all odds, Hollywood has managed to produce a good Ant-Man film before getting around to making even a passable Catwoman film. The irony here lies in the fact Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is a cat burglar. After serving his sentence for burgling a corrupt bank, Lang is approached by scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), the inventor of a particle that allows for the shrinking of matter. This technology, however, is being recreated by Pym’s former protégé Darren Cross (Corey Stoll). As a result, Pym recruits Lang to help steal back Cross’s technology and prevent him from selling it to various warmongers.
Luckily enough, “Ant-Man” avoids spending too much time dealing with its ridiculous premise. Though, upon looking back the movie, it becomes apparent that the film stays true to its miniature roots and avoids spending too much time dealing with anything (so much so that despite a runtime of 117 minutes, the film feels more like a 90-minute movie).
From establishing relationships to setting up the plot, everything in “Ant-Man” is rushed. As a result, any time the film tries to be serious for a moment, nothing really seems genuine. Tears flow out of the blue and then disappear just as suddenly. Tension feels forced and relief bodes just as poorly. It is in these moments moviegoers are pulled out of the film. However, when it finally finishes trying to be serious, “Ant-Man” manages to suck viewers back in with ease.
This film shines in a spot that some entries in the Marvel franchise (namely “Thor” and “The Incredible Hulk”) have failed: humor. While it certainly does not rise to the comedic heights of last years “Guardians of the Galaxy,” it is a very funny film. Though the film fails to give people time to warm up to Scott Lang and his (literal) partners in crime, audience members will be left powerless to the comedic styling of Paul Rudd and writer Edgar Wright.
Speaking of Edgar Wright, it is worth noting that Wright (famous for films like “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” and “Shaun of the Dead”) was originally set to direct this film. However, in true Hollywood fashion, this partnership did not pan out, leaving Peyton Reed (“Yes Man and The Break-Up”) as director. This mid-shooting change certainly left its mark on “Ant-Man.”
One of the most bothersome things about the film is the way it feels patched together. Both Reed and Wright have had their fingers in the Ant-Man pie and it shows. Their talented, yet contrasting styles left Ant-Man looking like your grandmother’s quilt. It has a charm that cannot be denied and it maintains its functional nature. However, when viewed as a complete package, some things just seem off.
But hey, at least it was better than “Age of Ulton.”
Final Score: 3 out of 5 Adorable Little Ants
