"Maybe you just need someone watching your back ..."

"... like a partner."

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Mini Non-Spoiler Review

[04th of July, 2018]

[PG-13, 1hr 58min, Action, Adventure, MCU, Quantum Realm, Sci-Fi] 

After the event that was Infinity War, nothing could live up to the phenomenon and Marvel decided smartly to follow it up with a palate cleanser that is Ant-Man and the Wasp, serving as a more upbeat counter offering to the cataclysmic downer (in all the right way) that was the third Avengers. Being the last film from the studio, they had to overcome the complication that the aftermath of the last scene with Thanos left the universe in and keep the fans entertained as they wait for the in-MCU follow-up next year with the Fourth. In my honest opinion, they did just that.

The two films that you have to watch first to fully appreciate this sequel is the first Ant-Man and Captain America: Civil War since this takes place directly after the events of the latter while they deal with what has been cemented in the former. Scott Lang's involvement in that iconic fight at the Germany airport had its consequences for him as well as the Pym family and the two years they spent apart from when he is caught until now forces the thief-turned-hero to help Hope Van Dyne and Hank Pym in their relentless effort to search for the original Wasp while still looking over his shoulders for FBI that's enacting the Socovia Accords over him. That's the gist, but do you get all that? Coming right after Killmonger and then Thanos, Marvel keeps churning out better villains one after another (that started all the way back to Homecoming's Vulture, in my humble opinion) but trying to create antagonists that revolves around the Quantum Realm proves to be quite a tricky handicap they had to deal with with Burch the typical one-note evil businessman with gun-toting henchmen (poor Walton Goggins, another villain role that's just decent after Tomb Raider) and Ghost that had a more personal tie to the Realm this second outing is focused on. Hannah John-Kamen portrays a relentless adversary to the duo while still appearing sympathetic when she is needed to be. It's not as meaty of a role compared to the two aforementioned villains but she serves her part well, better in my eyes compared to the first movie's Yellow Jacket. Laurence Fishburne's Dr. Bill Foster serves as a great foil to Pym as his former partner and his own knowledge on the matter that's on par with him.

Since the whole storyline revolves around the Quantum Realm, it was unfortunate that we didn't spend much time at all in the parallel universe and with just surface level explanations of the concept itself and its intricacies, you might be left wanting for more but I think they made a smart choice to focus on the threat of these powers falling into wrong hands and the efforts to go back into it since they can still use that Realm much, much more later in the upcoming features. Peyton Reed proven to be a capable replacement for Edgar Wright and he use what he learned from the 2016's Ant-Man and expand upon them by amping up the action sequences and humour as well. Fighting with shrinking abilities are always a wonder to see, especially when you can apply the effects on anything around you! I would never get tired of that! The one coming on top as the MVP of the film is of course Evangeline Lilly's the Wasp as she shines every time she is capably fighting the bad guys off and I can't wait to see her back where she belong; with the Avengers! I believe there's more quips and jokes coming from everybody compared to the predecessor (especially with the Michael Peña's Luis and Randall Park as the FBI officer) but that's the risk they took by including more for better or for worse. The script might be tighter the first time around with a more effective villain but I love every minute of it with the chemistry between the two leads certainly as the main highlight. Oh, I can't forget to mention how heartwarming his relationship with his daughter is! Abby Ryder Forston was excellent as the girl, Cassie! Love how the parents keep having a wonderful relationship with Scott! You can't compare in terms of scale to the third ensemble film but this neighbourhood adventure is a fun romp nonetheless and it can proudly say that it went somewhere nobody else has gone before!

All in all, this film teases something a more interesting route for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to go down later if they chose to do so but a contained storyline, it was a solid action-filled outing with Pym Particles hijinks all over the film that you would leave the theater thoroughly entertained. On to Captain Marvel next!

- official - IMDb - RT - wiki -

P.S. Do stay for the (first) mid-credit scene. The post-credit scene though ... remember ! Spoiler! Homecoming? ! Alert !
P.P.S. There was an Easter Egg in the Quantum Realm, but was too fast to register properly. Another viewing is necessary.
P.P.P.S. Janet Van Dyne came out of the dimension changed. I wonder if that would play a part in Avengers 4 ...