A One Mann’s Movies review of “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023).
It says something about the current malaise of the Marvel films that, in prepping to go and see Quantumania, I really struggled to remember anything that happened in “Ant Man and the Wasp“. Even more telling was that when I considered watching it again to remind myself, I decided “No… I can’t be bothered”.
Here comes a third in the series, and its a similarly lacklustre and unmemorable affair.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
It’s ‘proud father’ time for Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) as his daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton), working with Dr Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) have developed a machine for delving into the ‘quantum realm’. Unfortunately, a warning from Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) comes too late, and the four of them together with Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) get sucked into the Quantum Realm.
Certification:
UK: 12; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC: “Moderate fantasy violence, rude humour”.)
Talent:
Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Evangeline Lilly, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors, Bill Murray.
Directed by: Peyton Reed.
Written by: Jeff Loveness & Jack Kirby
Twitter Handle: #AntMan.
One can only assume that Kathryn Newton must have been furious with the costume department that her suit breast mouldings were at least a size smaller than Evangeline Lilly’s. (Source: Marvel)
“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” Review:
Positives:
- It’s really sad when the cleverest thing about the film is the way that they fade “Ant Man” into the title of “QuANTumMANia”.
- It doesn’t save the film, but Paul Rudd’s comedy schtick at the beginning of the film, and at various points during the film, is mildly entertaining.
- It would be churlish not to recognise the joy of seeing those old veterans Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer on the big screen. Of the two, Douglas fares much better in the acting stakes. And Bill Murray… in a Marvel film. Six words I didn’t think I would see in the same sentence.
Negatives:
- I thought this one looked dreadful from the trailer, and I wasn’t disappointed. Most of the film is in the Quantum Realm, and all I can see in my mind’s eye is a bunch of artists cavorting about on a big Pinewood green-screen stage. Because, despite all the action and explosions going on, I’ve afraid it’s just plain dull.
- I hate to criticise Jack Loveness given that this is his first feature screenplay. But some of the dialogue here is atrocious. This is particularly so for scenes with Lilly, Douglas and Pfeiffer early in the film where many of the lines are bland and forgettable and the actors seem to recognise they are bland and forgettable by saying them in a bland and forgettable way! I audibly groaned at one point. As Kevin Maher said in his review in “The Times”, it takes some doing to sit Douglas, Pfeiffer and Murray around a table in a scene and make it dull.
- Evangeline Lilly seems to be a complete spare part in the movie. Apart from a couple of acts of fighting bravura, she is given very little to do. This should be titled “Ant Man (and the Wasp)”.
- Some aspects of the plot make no sense at all. Kang goes around using his ultimate power to throw people around like rag-dolls. Yet in an underwhelming finale, he and Ant Man duke it out in a fist fight! Now I get it that Ant Man’s helmet was damaged so he couldn’t do the ‘big-thing/little-thing’ trick. But, unless I missed it, there’s no explanation as to why Kang is unable to use his superpowers!
- Marvel seem to be trying to create a new Thanos in the form of Kang The Conqueror: the character is set to appear in “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” in 2025 and “Avengers: Secret Wars” in 2026. (They’ve even not gone for the easiest sequel title of “The Wrath of Kang”!) Jonathan Majors, soon to be seen in “Creed 3”, does a fine job in the role, but I couldn’t really care whether the character comes back or not.
Monkeys?
This is a Marvel film, so OBVIOUSLY there are monkeys! There’s a mid-credits scene and one at the end, setting up for the Avengers follow-on movies. (No spoilers, but if Jonathan Majors got an “appearance fee”, then he’s had a good year.)
Summary Thoughts on “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”:
Marvel seems to be on life-support if this is anything to go by. If, like “Ant Man“, it had tried to position itself at the comedy-Marvel end of the spectrum it might have succeeded. But, while there is still some comic moments in there, it is far more po-faced than even “Ant Man and the Wasp“. Dull, dull, dull. My recommendation: avoid.
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Trailer for “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlNFpri-Y40 .
