Ant-Man★★★★3/4
Criminal turned good
R.I.P. dear [REDACTED]*
Let's fight with toy trains
Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
WARNING: Possible spoilers ahead.
I honestly didn't have high hopes for this movie. Yes, it's a Marvel film, and I have really liked or flat-out loved their recent movies. But ... Ant-Man? I knew very little about the character(s) or the comics, and the trailers really did this movie no favors. I also hate ants. Like with a fiery passion. (I once woke up with a mass of them crawling around on my ceiling and falling onto my face. I am scarred for life.)
Thankfully, I should have known better. If anyone can make a movie with a relatively unknown comic hero *cough*Guardians of the Galaxy*cough* and have it be really great, it's Marvel. Dare I say it—the movie even made me like ants? But only if they're obedient, helpful creatures like the ones in the movie. I still have a great dislike for the IRL creatures.
Ant-Man is the origin story of a unlikely hero that will certainly have a part to play in upcoming events in the Marvel 'verse. Paul Rudd does a fantastic job at bringing the snarky, reluctant hero to life. It's obvious that Scott Lang is a good guy at heart, and I can see him fitting right in with the rest of the Marvel heroes.
The actual plot of the movie was a little familiar, but I chalk that up to the fact that there are only so many ways someone can become a superhero that doesn't involve some sort of ooze or genetic mutations.
My favorite part, by far, was the way they filmed Luis' (Michael Peña) "stories." It took me a bit to realize that the characters in the "flashbacks" were saying exactly what Luis was saying—even though they would never say it like that—but when I did, I couldn't stop laughing. It's the little things like that make Marvel's movies stand above the rest for me.
On the whole, Ant-Man ranks in my second tier of Marvel movies. (The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy are in the top tier. Rankings get a little more muddied after that.) If you're a Marvel fan, you should definitely see this one in theaters. Unfortunately, it needs the help!
Check it out:
*Antony. Is still fits! (Highlight for spoilers.)
No comments
Leave a comment?