Review of Ant-Man (2015) by Mick G — 09 Nov 2017

When people think of Marvel flicks, the big names stick out. Iron-Man, Captain America, Thor, etc. Ant-Man is one of the less famous heroes, the kind you'd think wouldn't get their own film. The kind who would be in someone else's, like Hawkeye, Black Widow or Falcon. However, giving Ant-Man his own standalone film turned out to be a great move. Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man) is a charming lead, who brought a good balance to the role. His chemistry with Hope (Evangeline Lilly) was strong and not heavy handed. While they were highlights, it was the side characters who really shined here. Corey Stoll (Darren Cross) didn't get a ton to do as the villain, but Michael Douglas (Hank Pym) was a great mentor character, Michael Pena (Luis) provided tremendous comic relief and the Anthony Mackie (Falcon) cameo was one of my favorite parts.

Coming out in the same year as Avengers: Age of Ultron, this was a way more enjoyable experience to me. It was lighthearted, despite having high stakes. You can't help but be enamored when you watch the hero battle his nemesis on a child's train set. The CGI and effects were flat out splendid. I also love a good heist film, which is exactly what this was at its heart. The emotional addition of Lang's daughter was well done, making for an impactful climax. My only real issue with this film was the lack of a top tier villain. Other than that, this shined. It was witty, clever and one of the most fun Marvel films you'll ever see.