After being released from prison, Scott Lang hopes to go straight so he can see more of his daughter. However, when things don't go his way, he resorts back to crime, which brings him into contact with Hank Pym, who needs Scott's help to protect and save the world...
I've been critical of Marvel in the past with regards to their focus on their movie continuity over story. If you believe the rumours this is why Edgar Wright who had spend a number of years working on the script for an Ant-Man film left the project, citing 'creative difficulties.' He still has a co-story and co-script credit here but you wonder what his version would have looked like. What I can say is that this film of Ant-Man is terrific fun.
Despite my misgivings on the continuity aspect of Marvel's films, you have to concede they do have ambition, not only with their overall plan but also in the choice of not only character but type of film. If Captain America: The Winter Soldier was a spy thriller, and Guardians Of The Galaxy was a 'Star Wars' type of film, then Ant-Man is a heist film.
The story has four credited script writers. As well as Wright, there is Joe Cornish (who developed the story with Wright to begin with) Adam McKay and Paul Rudd. As I said, I've no idea what remains of Wright and Cornish's original story and script but the resulting one is a pretty good, often funny one. This is possibly the funniest film Marvel has made so far. However, don't think this is an outright comedy or a spoof. It fits right in with the overall tone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with references to other heroes and events in other films but also with with some very good and surprising cameos.
Paul Rudd plays Scott and you can see why he was chosen, bring his almost laid back attitude to the character. He's great in the role, especially in the earlier part of the film as he learns how to work with ants and how the suit works. There is great support from Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, the creator of the suit who mentors Scott. Evangeline Lilly plays Hank's daughter who is helping them and Corey Stoll plays Darren Cross, who is attempting to replicate Hank's work and becomes the film's villain. There are smaller roles for the likes of Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer and Michael Pena and they are good too.
The film is well directed by Peyton Reed, who keeps the film moving at a brisk pace. The film runs for almost two hours but is never dull. The CGI is very impressive indeed, when we see Scott the size of an ant and combined with the editing, results in some pretty good action moments in the film.
However, there are some issues. The climax of the film does have similarities to the first Iron-Man film which does result in the actors getting lost in the CGI used in the confrontation. The score from Christophe Beck isn't that memorable sadly, compared to some of the previous Marvel scores. There is also no escaping the fact that the basic story isn't the most original. However, as I have said before, it's what you do with that story that is important, even if it is not the most original story.
Ant-Man brings to an end phase two of MCU. It does it very well indeed while also setting details in place for what may happen in phase three, thanks in part to two of the better mid and end credit scenes Marvel have done recently.
Earlier this year, Marvel released Avengers: Age Of Ultron, which was meant to be their big film of the year. Well it might be a bigger film. But Ant-Man, despite being of a smaller (no pun intended) scope, is by far the better film.
Even if not a fan of superhero films, there is a lot to enjoy here in a funny, clever and exciting film.
Well worth seeing.
Rating - 8/10
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