Paul Rudd, Michael Peña and fellow cast Take Flight in “Ant-Man and the Wasp”
By Liz Lopez
Rating: A
Director Peyton Reed and writer/actor Paul Rudd return with “Ant-Man and the Wasp” for fans who anxiously await to see what has happened with Scott Lang/Ant Man since his last appearances in “Ant Man” (2015) and subsequently with “Captain America: Civil War” (2016). For anyone who has seen “Ant-Man,” he is a different kind of hero from Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man and Black Panther, but nonetheless he is a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) hero with a different sense of humor. Rudd’s charm, charisma and comedic talent are a strong appeal and perhaps the fact that he is different (a fun superhero and father) is what may bring more of his movie fans over to view this Marvel Studios franchise.
The script for “Ant-Man and the Wasp” (aside from Rudd) is also written by Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”), Andrew Barrer (“Haunt”) and Gabriel Ferrari. While the script has the dramatic aspect with the efforts to rescue Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) by Scott’s former associates, husband Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), there are some plain laugh-out-loud moments not only from Rudd, but the supporting cast. Scott started a security business with his friends Luis (Michael Peña), Dave (Tip “T.I.” Harris) and Kurt (David Dastmalchian) and some of the most comedic moments come from Peña. As much as I would love to recount those scenes now, I don’t want to rob any viewer from enjoying the well written comedic moments. I am glad the writers recognize Peña’s comedic talent and let him run with it.
Rudd is co-headliner with Lilly as “Ant-Man and the Wasp” and it is great to see Lilly’s Hope van Dyne have the superhero skill and strength and not anything less. She appears to out –do Ant Man in a couple of scenes at first, but her real action scenes shine when she encounters an entity known as Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen). It is best to see the film and learn more about this entity and what she is able to do, despite the wings and blasters that the Wasp has on her suit. It is dynamic action not to be missed.
Also among the great supporting cast is Scott’s daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Forston), Randall Park as FBI agent Jimmy Woo, and the criminal Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins), among the extensive cast used in this production.
“Ant-Man and the Wasp” is a great story, with big fun and one that I certainly look forward to viewing when the studio’s next installment arrives for this solo hero series. “Ant-Man and the Wasp” starts playing in some U.S. theaters Thursday evening July 5th and opens nationwide on Friday, July 6, 2018.
Running time is 125 minutes. The film is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action, violence and brief suggestive material.