Ant-Man And The Wasp 2018 Review

Introduction (Warning Contains Spoilers)

With an extended version of Avengers: Endgame coming to cinemas this September, Marvel is attracting renewed attention.

Avengers: Doomsday is also scheduled to arrive in December. That gives us another opportunity to continue revisiting the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

We are working through the Marvel films in chronological order. Our journey now takes us to 2018 and Ant-Man and the Wasp.

The film arrives three years after the original Ant-Man. Peyton Reed returns as director for the sequel.

Paul Rudd reprises his role as Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man. However, this time, there is an expanded role for Evangeline Lilly‘s Hope van Dyne, the Wasp.

Michael Douglas reprises his role as Dr. Hank Pym. Michael Peña will also reprise his role as Luis.

Michelle Pfeiffer joins the cast as Janet van Dyne. She is Hank’s wife and Hope’s mother. She has been stranded in the Quantum Realm for decades.

Thus, the plot adds a personal touch to the goals of the sequel. Both Hank and Hope seek to bring Janet back.

Involving Scott in their cause is all the more difficult since Scott is under house arrest due to his actions in Captain America: Civil War

This movie is therefore on a much smaller scale compared to most other MCU movies. This is indeed a good point of the movie.

It is focused more on family, relationships, and individual responsibility. It also maintains the humor element introduced in the first Ant-Man movie.

The question is if this formula improves the movie. It definitely has some elements that have been improved. The action sequences have been made more imaginative.

The visual effects are now more ambitious. Hope gets much more character development. The shrinking technology is also creatively used.

But it definitely has not completely overcome some shortcomings from its predecessor. The plot is still quite lightweight. The villain is not as impressive as some of Marvel’s villains.

Some jokes hit home very hard. Some seem to interrupt the story. So, is Ant-Man and the Wasp better than Ant-Man?

The answer is complicated. In some important areas, the sequel is clearly an improvement. In other areas, the first film still has the advantage.

Direction

Peyton Reed returns to direct the sequel. That continuity is important because the first film established its own comedic identity.

Reed understands how to make the Ant-Man work visually. He knows how to use size as a means of storytelling.

For a sequel, he has more room to work with that concept. Reed does not need to introduce Scott Lang as a superhero anymore.

Therefore, he can move the plot forward much more quickly. There was much time spent developing Scott’s transition to superheroism in the first movie.

In the sequel, there is much more focus on the aftereffects of that superheroism. It increases the efficiency of pacing in multiple parts of the movie.

The relationship between Scott and Hope is being portrayed in a new way. Hope is no longer helping Scott become Ant-Man.

She has become a superhero herself in the meantime. One of the major improvements from the first movie is that.

Evangeline Lilly has significantly more action scenes. She has a chance to show off her superhero powers without always being at Scott’s side.

As such, there is a greater balance struck between the two main heroes. This does not mean that the film manages to resolve its character issues.

Scott remains the star of the movie. Hope’s arc is closely related to finding her mother. It means she has a motive.

Still, there could be room for exploring her more. Yet, this time Reed exploits her character much better than the previous film did.

The action direction is also a significant improvement. It is played in the terms of scale. There is a moment when characters shrink and grow.

Objects gain potential of becoming weapons. A simple suitcase turns into something more. And a car can suddenly shrink or grow during a chase.

Such concepts provide an action that is not typical of superhero films. Here comes the understanding of the film’s identity.

In the original Ant-Man size was used creatively. But in the sequel the same ideas are pushed to new heights.

It can easily be done with the help of San Francisco’s setting. Here the city itself gains importance as a character in the action scenes.

Both cars, buildings, and streets can serve as the elements of the spectacle. The movie also features a lot of cooperation between Ant-Man and the Wasp.

These two work in a team rather than separately. Different skills make this couple really interesting to watch.

The Wasp is faster and more accurate. Ant-Man is more physical. Differences in their skills make a natural superhero team.

Humour is also important here. Paul Rudd is really good at delivering funny moments when he plays Scott.

The awkwardness of this character makes him funny. However, the film is too dependent on humour.

Not everything related to comedy works well. Some scenes go longer due to humorous elements. It was a flaw in the first film.

This movie has managed to improve it to some extent. But this problem still exists. Thus, the direction of the film is really strong.

Reed understands his characters better. Also, he understands better the potential of the franchise visually. It looks much more confident than the first film.

Cinematography

Dante Spinotti serves as cinematographer on the sequel. The film has a bright and polished visual appearance. That suits its lighter tone.

It also distinguishes the film from darker Marvel movies. Much of the film’s visuals come from San Francisco.

The city offers the film a familiar setting. But the movie frequently changes the scale of the setting.

This produces one of the film’s most interesting visuals. An ordinary street can be huge in the eyes of Scott.

A giant Ant-Man can make an ordinary thing look extraordinary. Thus, the cinematography in the film works in conjunction with its visual effects.

The camera must sell the difference in the sizes. It may not be an easy task. However, the film manages to do it quite well.

The visual effects make it clear where particular characters are located. It is especially helpful when the viewer sees the action scenes.

The Wasp’s movement is also visually unique. She moves quicker and more precisely than Scott. The use of the camera highlights this fact.

The Quantum Realm is yet another chance for the use of innovative visual effects. It consists of unique landscapes and environments.

However, this is the part where the film does not manage to succeed fully.

The Quantum Realm is quite intriguing. It fails to look as creative as it should. The concept offers plenty of visual possibilities.

However, the film fails to explore all of them. After watching other MCU films with their visual worlds, it becomes rather obvious.

Thus, the cinematography is good, but not revolutionary. It serves the storyline well.

It also makes the concept of shrinking visually clear. However, the most notable visuals come from the action scenes.

The changing scale provides the movie with its strongest visual identity. That is something the first film established. The sequel develops it considerably further.

Visual Effects

One of the most significant improvements of the sequel is in its visual effects.

The movie needs to make several different versions of its main characters.

Scott can shrink. Scott can also grow extremely big. Hope can switch between normal and tiny size. Hank and Janet use the Quantum Realm.

Ghost also needs many visual effects. Her abilities allow her body to pass through other objects. This results in a specific look.

The ability makes her stand out from other MCU villains in a visual sense. The movie also uses visual effects to show the Quantum Realm.

It helps the movie to have an extra-worldly feeling. These effects are especially good when they are used in the action scenes.

Changing size allows them to create things that other superhero movies cannot. For example, a regular car becomes a miniaturized one.

Also, a normal building turns into a giant obstacle. A tiny character can easily hide in some places. The giant character can destroy anything just through movement.

This film is aware of how entertaining such concepts are. This is where the sequel arguably surpasses the original.

The first Ant-Man had established this idea effectively. The sequel gets better at handling this.

The effects also enhance the powers of the Wasp. Through her wings and suit, she is able to move fast. The effects create an energizing experience in her flying scenes.

There is also a difficulty in handling the powers of Ghost. Her unstable nature creates a unique visual language. Nevertheless, everything is not flawless.

There are some digital effects that look obviously fake. The Quantum Realm can also turn out to be less exciting.

The movie has the technology to make something amazing. Sometimes, it is satisfied with doing something average. This is sad.

Therefore, the best visual effects in the movie come from the practical superhero action. The shrinking and growing scenes remain enjoyable.

They are innovative and not expensive only. This is important. Technology in the movie creates both jokes and action.

Overall, the visual effects are a clear improvement. They give the sequel more spectacle. They also make the Ant-Man concept feel more developed.

Themes and Storyline

Family is a very important relationship in the core of the narrative. For many years, Hank has been searching for his wife Janet.

Hope wants to know the fate of her mother. Scott wants to keep the link with his daughter. The relationships within the families form the basis of emotions in this film.

It is better than some of the aspects of the first movie. In the first film, all attention was paid to Scott becoming a superhero.

However, in this movie, attention is paid to the price of being a superhero. Scott is under house arrest because of his deeds.

He cannot ignore his responsibilities. At the same time, he needs to choose whether it is worth it to help Hank.

It forms an interesting conflict. Scott wants to be a good father and a superhero. These identities do not always coincide.

The film thus maintains the concept of responsibility. But it approaches the idea in a much more personal manner.

For Scott, it is not about saving the planet. Instead, he is concerned about his family. In this case, the plot becomes less grand.

At the same time, the film becomes more relatable. The story of Hope also plays a vital role. She is looking for her mother.

But she is also interested in understanding the woman who is a stranger to her. Thus, there is an emotional connection that motivates Hope to become the Wasp.

In addition, Michelle Pfeiffer adds enigma to Janet. The experiences of the latter in the Quantum Realm change her. The film alludes to it but does not elaborate on it enough.

Similarly, the antagonist called Ghost is motivated by emotions as well. She is not only seeking to dominate the world.

What she wants is to stay alive since her body becomes unstable because of the condition. The character is thus much more sympathetic than many other Marvel villains.

However, this becomes the main weakness of the film. The character’s plot is sometimes separate from the adventure.

The audience is encouraged to sympathise with her. Yet she remains an obstacle to the central mission.

The film therefore has several competing objectives.

Hank wants Janet back. Hope wants her mother. Scott wants to help them. Ghost wants to survive. Sonny Burch wants to steal Hank’s technology.

The story can therefore feel busier than necessary. This is where the first film arguably has an advantage.

The original has a simpler central objective. Scott needs to learn how to use the suit. He then needs to stop Darren Cross.

The sequel has more characters and motivations. That gives it greater scope. It also creates more distractions.

The film is therefore better developed in some areas. It is also less focused in others.

Performances

Paul Rudd is still one of the most positive features of the movie. Rudd makes Scott Lang a likeable character.

Rudd appreciates the awkwardness of the character. Also, Rudd does not overdo comedy and does not make the character ridiculous.

There is warmth in Rudd’s acting. The warmth of his acting works especially well in the scenes with Cassie.

The father-daughter bond of Scott is still important. Rudd conveys real affection in such scenes.

Arguably the biggest upgrade from the first movie is Evangeline Lilly. Hope takes on a lot more responsibility.

Lilly gets a lot more action. She also has many chances to develop her character’s personality.

The Wasp comes across as an actual co-lead character. This is something that was lacking in the first movie.

Her performance is very confident. She does the physical aspect of the job very well too. Finally, Hope gets the chance to be a superhero in this movie.

Michael Douglas still plays Hank Pym well. Douglas manages to give a character a combination of authority and humor.

The connection between Hank and Hope provides emotional depth. Moreover, he adds vulnerability to the character.

Hank is not only an inventor. He is a husband who is looking for his wife.

Michelle Pfeiffer manages to make her character instantly recognizable. She adds one more layer of emotions to the movie.

But her character can be used better. Janet is shown as an important figure right from the start. But it does not utilize her potential.

It does not always take advantage of her potential.

Michael Peña returns as Luis. His comedic style remains one of the most divisive aspects of the franchise.

Some viewers will find him hilarious. Others may feel the jokes become repetitive. His storytelling sequences are entertaining when they work.

However, the film occasionally relies on them too heavily.

Laurence Fishburne plays Bill Foster. He provides a more serious connection to Hank’s past. Fishburne brings authority to the role. However, Foster is underused.

Hannah John-Kamen plays Ghost. She gives the character a sense of vulnerability. Her performance helps explain why Ghost is not a conventional villain.

However, the character’s storyline sometimes feels underdeveloped. The character would appear later in the movie Thunderbolts.

Walton Goggins plays Sonny Burch. He is entertaining but relatively conventional. The character primarily exists to create another obstacle.

Randall Park plays FBI agent Jimmy Woo. He adds another layer of comedy. Park’s performance works because he plays Woo relatively straight. That makes Scott’s behaviour even funnier.

Overall, the performances are strong.

The biggest improvement is the increased importance of Evangeline Lilly. She gives the sequel a stronger superhero partnership.

Paul Rudd remains consistently entertaining. Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer provide the emotional core.

What Did It Do Better Than Ant-Man?

And here is when the comparison gets really interesting. There are some aspects that make Ant-Man and the Wasp better than the first film.

Of course, the biggest aspect is the action. The second installment has more creative action scenes.

It uses the shifting scale even more skillfully. The action scenes also get divided more equally between the two heroes.

Hope doesn’t stand around waiting for Scott to do something. She is already a seasoned superhero. Thus, their teamwork looks much more plausible.

The visual effects also got more polished. In the first film, the shrinking concept was introduced..In the second film, it is expanded upon.

There are more jokes based on it. There are also more action scenes using it. The visual effects become more integral part of the narrative as well.

Finally, there is more clarity regarding the nature of this film. The film realizes its comedy perfectly.

In fact, the first Ant-Man seems to have trouble with it. It may look like a standard origin story.

Ant-Man and the Wasp, however, is very confident about being odd. It goes from car chase to giant Pez dispenser joke. And then, into the Quantum Realm.

This unpredictability is part of what makes the film appealing.

The film also provides Hope with an improved role. Perhaps this is the most significant improvement. The first film establishes Hope as a major character.

The sequel allows her to become the Wasp. This helps make the title more justified. The family dynamic is also improved in the sequel.

Hank’s dynamic with Hope gets more attention. Scott’s dynamic with Cassie stays prominent. Janet’s return adds emotional weight to the plot.

All of these help make the sequel more heartwarming. The first film has better origins. First, it provides the novelty of introducing Ant-Man.

Second, it provides the hero’s journey. The sequel cannot duplicate this feeling of discovery. But it does not need to do so.

The sequel is meant to expand the idea. It succeeds in doing so.

What Did It Not Do Better?

The sequel does not necessarily become the superior movie automatically. The original Ant-Man is much more straightforward in terms of plot.

This makes for an easier-paced film. The sequel features multiple conflicting plots. Ghost has her own reasons.

Sonny Burch has his own agenda. Hank and Hope have their mission. Scott has his issues at home. Janet has her own backstory.

These aspects create a very busy film. Not all of them could have fit into the movie.

Another aspect where the sequel falls behind is the villain. Ghost is a sympathetic character. Hannah John-Kamen delivers a decent performance.

Darren Cross did not make a great Marvel villain. But the conflict between him and Hank and Scott was clear.

But ghost’s motivations are more complicated. Ghost’s function in the movie is more fragmented as well.

Thus, the sequel improves the emotional motivation but not necessarily the villain.

Comedy is another mixed element of the movie. Humor of the first film was much more organic. Sometimes the sequel inserts unnecessary jokes in scenes where they are not needed.

Luis remains a funny character in the sequel. Nevertheless, his way of telling stories can get boring because he tells everything very long.

And the stakes in the sequel are rather low. It is done intentionally. The film aims to be another smaller adventure of Marvel.

However, for some people, it might seem like less significant story.

While in the first film there is an excitement of turning into Ant-Man. In the sequel it is just comfortable.

Thus, the sequel is pleasant to watch. And, in its turn, it is less memorable movie.

I think this is the main difference between these movies.

The sequel is definitely more polished movie. But the original is definitely more satisfying one.

The sequel improves mechanics. While the original is fresher movie.

Overall Verdict

Is Ant-Man and the Wasp better than Ant-Man? I would say that it is slightly better in several technical aspects.

Nevertheless, I wouldn’t say that it is definitely superior to the original.

The sequel feels more sure of itself. The action is better. The visual effects are more creative. The idea of shrinking is also employed better.

In addition, Wasp is an improvement too. Evangeline Lilly finally gets a chance to star in superhero action.

It is especially effective in cooperation with Paul Rudd.

The family themes are also stronger. Hank’s quest for Janet is a real driving force of the plot. Also, Scott’s relation to Cassie stays significant.

The acting is good too. Paul Rudd still fits the role of Scott Lang perfectly. Michael Douglas still plays Hank Pym believably.

Michelle Pfeiffer brings a lot of charisma as Janet. Hannah John-Kamen makes Ghost sympathetic.

Nevertheless, there are some problems.

The story is even more complex than the first one. There are many characters and motivations fighting against each other.

Finally, Ghost is sympathetic but not really memorable. Sonny Burch introduces yet another story that could have been cut down even further.

The comedy itself is uneven. Some jokes work great. But others spoil potential dramatic moments.

Quantum Realm is another thing that seems to be wasted. It looks intriguing. But there was room for more exploitation of these strange and exciting opportunities.

And here Doctor Strange was way ahead visually. First Ant-Man has one obvious strong side left. Namely, the excitement and intrigue of the origin story.

Seeing how Scott got his abilities was a very fun process. Second Ant-Man cannot give you this anymore.

Instead, it presents to you already formed character. This makes it better. But at the same time a little bit predictable.

So, my opinion on Ant-Man and the Wasp is that it is a small but definite upgrade. It doesn’t make a huge leap.

It doesn’t change the franchise dramatically. What it does is it uses positive things from the first film and expands them.

The action is more inventive. The visuals are better. And Wasp finally gets her proper attention.

Family dynamics also get deeper.

However, the movie remains light-hearted all the way through.

It does not have a very threatening villain. It sometimes goes to far in terms of comedy.

It is somewhat unfocused in its plot development. That makes the comparison quite hard.

In my opinion, the original film was a better origin story. On the other hand, the sequel was a better superhero movie.

Also, in terms of technical quality, the sequel was definitely better.

However, in the matter of personality, the original film wins, as there was something new in everything.

Overall, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a fun sequel. It manages to improve on the first movie without overshadowing it.

It realizes that the key to Ant-Man is his powers. Also, it proves that the Wasp is just as good as Ant-Man.

That is quite an achievement. Nevertheless, it fails to become one of the essential Marvel films. It is an entertaining film rather than an innovative one.

It is polished, but not ambitious. That is why I would rate the sequel a bit higher than the original.