Ant-Man Review
Ant-Man is a weird choice for Marvel to decide to incorporate into its universe. Well to regular people it is. In the comics, Ant-Man was a founding member of the Avengers team. It also introduces elements that will be used in future installments of the Marvel Universe. Shrinking down isn't an old concept in film. We have been previously treated to Honey I Shrunk the Kids (as well as sequels) and The Incredible Shrinking Man. But this is also a heist film, which is interesting because I can bet money that most people have thought about if you can shrink down and rob a bank.
In 1989, the scientist Dr. Hank Pym quits working for the S.H.I.E.L.D. when he discovers that they have unsuccessfully tried to replicate his shrinking technology named Ant-Man that he considers too dangerous for mankind. In the present days, Dr. Pym was forced by his daughter Hope van Dyne and his former protégé Darren Cross to leave his company Pym Technologies to them. Further, he finds that Darren is developing his own shrinking technology named Yellowjacket. Meanwhile, the small-time criminal Scott Lang is released from prison and welcomed by his former cell mate Luis that wants him to participate in a heist. However Scott wants to find an honest job to take care of his beloved daughter Cassie that lives with his estranged wife Maggie and her future husband Detective Paxton. However his criminal record does not give a chance to him and he accepts to participate in the heist of the house of a millionaire. He finds only a special suit in the safe and he is arrested again by the police. Soon he learns that he is part of the scheme plotted by Dr. Pym and Hope to make him a superhero wearing the suit and save the world destroying the Yellowjacket. Without any alternative, Scott is trained by Dr. Pym and Hope in the beginning of an incredible adventure.
Ant-Man is a film that has been in development since the late 80's. Edgar Wright was a massive fan of the comics as a child so he was attached to direct for quite some time. However due to creative differences, he was out. And it is a shame because he is a fantastic director. And there are scenes that you can just tell are his such as the "tip" sequences and the Thomas the Tank Engine scene. Wright was credited for writing the script however it is impossible to tell what would have been different with Wright behind the wheel. That's not to say that Ant-Man is a bad film. It's actually quite good. Paul Rudd is surprising as Scott Lang. He is more well known for his comedic performances so everyone wasn't so sure about his casting. But he nails it. He is funny and believable in all of his scenes. Michael Douglas is also good. The first scene is a young Michael Douglas. The technology used in the making of that film is great. Douglas looks like he just got off of the set of Wall Street to shoot a quick scene for the film. Corey Stoll plays the main antagonist of the film, Darren Cross. Stoll is a good actor but he doesn't feel like much of a threat. The problem isn't him. The character isn't developed well in the film. Michael Pena plays Lang's friend Luis and he is hilarious. Probably one of the better characters in the film. Almost everything in this film is great. The script. Story. Characters. I just would have wanted to see Edgar Wright's film.
