A Film Review of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Spoiler-Free)


"You've lost a lot of time. But time, it isn't what you think... It's not a straight line."


    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the first Marvel film in a long time that has felt finished. So many outside variables have affected how these films are made, and this feels like the first movie that has a clear and consistent vision. The adventure at the heart of the film introduces a whole new world to the already massive scale of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the same time, the film also feels like a massive upgrade to the previous Ant-Man films. 

    The amount of detail that has gone into fleshing out the quantum realm is pretty impressive. It almost feels like an embarrassment of riches as some scenes are packed with too many visuals. One of my major complaints with this film is that so much of the painstaking details of this world are brushed aside to move the plot along. There isn't a lot of time taken to truly appreciate all the hard work that went into the varied locations and character/creature designs. Like all Marvel films, the attention is mainly towards the primary cast of characters.

    Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer all return in this film and are perfectly serviceable in their roles. Even with Rudd's signature charm, it's hard for him to be a true stand out when the writing (especially the comedy) isn't strong enough to support him. This film truly belongs to Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror. He has such an impressive screen presence, and the mannerisms that he brings to Kang create a character with truly interesting depth. Kathryn Newton is another newcomer to the series, becoming the new Cassie Lang in this film. Although she is handled better than a lot of the recent newbies in the MCU, there is still a clear lack of characterization compared to many of her scene partners. 

    Like with so many Marvel films, there is a lot to absorb with this film. Not only do the events of the film itself have to be a consideration, but also everything that came before it in the MCU and everything that's coming after. The weight of that responsibility weighs heavily on this film and for the most part, it actually succeeds with progressing the overarching storyline. Quantumania is a satisfying and enjoyable superhero movie, even if it can feel over-baked at times.  


Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania - 3/5, 6/10, B-

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