Is The Miniaturized Avenger Worth Your Time?

10:46 AM Unknown 0 Comments



The newest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe might be the smallest film they have ever made, but the question remains if it also holds the smallest punch? Especially considering the production history behind the film, one would think that the film might have fallen apart. Yet, the point of a film is not to evaluate it on what could have been, but what we were offered in the end and what managed to survive. So, after finally being able to watch the film in English, I thought it was about time to talk about my personal opinion of the film


           Synopsis
After getting out of prison, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is trying to turn his life around to prove to his ex-wife and daughter that he is a better person. After getting entangled in a heist that involves Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), who are trying to keep Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) from recreating the formula that once allowed Pym to be the hero Ant-Man.

A Much More Personal Story
The first thing one would have to point out is that the beginning of the film is a much more personal and somber film in comparison to the likes of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Instead of jumping directly into the chaos, the film actually takes its time to allow us to understand what motivates not only Scott, but also Pym. Especially Pym’s storyline throughout the film is actually quite a dark. The loss of his wife lead to him to neglect his daughter and their relationship is a core storyline that also strongly reflects back on Scott. Pym believes that Scott can make up for the mistakes he had done by giving him a second chance, which ironically involves him doing exactly that what got him into prison to begin with. Even Cross, who some would consider a lackluster villain, does actually have a very interesting storyline that many fans of the comics will recognize simply due to the fact that he is the darkest incarnation of Pym himself. Something I believe it is more subtext that could or should’ve been expanded in future films.

It’s A Small World After All
In a world full of CGI-heavy films, I believe that Ant-Man profits the most from it. They add a lot of depth to the shrinking scenes that would be very difficult to pull off without CGI, also one of the reasons the film took as long as it did to come out. There are some fantastic and creative usages of the shrinking ability, especially with the third act taking place in probably the most bizarre places it could. This is something that I hope they explore more in future films, which sadly to this point have yet to be officially announced. One of my personal favorite moments is actually how they use the size changing in general to show action sequences, as it is quite a bizarre ability and allows Scott to get out of tight spots quite fast. The best way to showcase his abilities was used in a pre-heist with a cameo that sadly was already spoilered in the trailers. It is very difficult to explain and something I highly recommend to just see unfold on the big screen, as you feel the size difference between Ant-Man and the rest of the world.

To Be An Ant-Man
One thing this film heavily depends on the performances by the actors and luckily they are all great in their roles. Paul Rudd is hilarious and his facial expressions are great, which are sadly restricted with the helmet, but one perfect decision was to allow us to see his eyes through red lenses, so we still connect with the character. Douglas is the perfect straight man in contrast to Scott and also feels like the perfect middle ground between Rudd and Stoll. Stoll gives this performance his all and it shows that he tries to be a more insane variation on Pym, which echoes throughout the film, while Scott is more of a light-hearted misguided character with good intentions. Evangeline Lilly is a perfect Hope van Dyne, who is a character carrying on the legacy of her mother. You feel the resentment, but hope (ironically) that there is a chance to save her relationship with her father.

The Ant In The Room
I’ve been reading a lot of articles on how Hope van Dyne should have been the main character of this film and I have voiced my personal opinions on the matter. Besides the fact that this is film is titled Ant-Man and not Wasp should already be the first sign, but yes the entire story focuses on the fact that Hope is actually better suited for the job, but that is her subjective view. Scott has a lot of experience breaking in to places, which is actually shown to us in the first act. He is essential to the plan because of his experience that gives him a slight edge over Hope, who also must play a big role as her disappearing would make Cross notice something is wrong. Would it have been better to see her as the Wasp? It would certainly add to the character, but I believe that she without the costume is a fantastic character on her own, who had a very important storyline here. It would have been cut down if she was to become Wasp and I believe that saving that character for a future film is actually a smarter decision.

In the end, is it Marvel Studio’s best film? I think it is a perfect addition to the franchise and has proven after the entire production history behind it, they have managed to still keep the film consistent. Am I going to compare it to what Edgar Wright had originally planned? No, not at all, because that film does not actually exist anymore and I think we should evaluate the job that Peyton Reed did. Not only did he manage to make this film his own within just a short time period after taking over the entire production, but at the same time he gave us probably the most personal story Marvel has told since Iron Man. It is a great film and I highly recommend anyone to watch on the big screen to just feel the size of being an ant.

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