Review of Ant-Man (2015) by Greatmartin — 22 Aug 2015

Hesitating to make 2 statements, feeling they will come back to bite me in the butt, I still will: 1) “Ant-Man” is the first Marvel comics to screen that I really enjoyed and 2) “Ant-Man” is a very funny movie! It is funny in its ridiculousness, in its insensible, illogical, crazy screenplay and the incredible special effects has too many to mention moments. This may all be a reaction to the deadly boring film I saw Friday but whatever the reason I was entertained and what more do you want from a Saturday afternoon film?

Paul Rudd, as Ant-Man, is an ex-con who doesn’t want to go back to jail but needs to get back support money for his child, Abby Ryder Fortson, to his ex-wife Judy Greer who has a new boyfriend, Bobby Cannavale. Meanwhile Dr. Hank Pym, played by Michael Douglas looking great--special effects?--has discovered the shrinkage formula and, following Rudd for a number of years, elects him to be the Ant-man. His daughter, Evangeline Lilly, works for Corey Stoll, the protégé of the Doctor and pushing him out of the business but doesn’t have the formula and is working on his own. You can almost see Stoll, as the villain, twirling his non-existent mustache. Oh yes can’t forget the trio of Michael Pena, Tip Harris and Wood Harris along with David Dastmalchian as former prison friends of Rudd. Another clever special effect involves Pena and lip movements.

There are a few sweet moments involving the fathers and daughters and one of how Lilly’s mother died, slowing the laughter pace, but only the latter is a time waster.

Director Peyton Reed, with the screenplay by Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay and Paul Rudd, who obviously added to the humor of the film, takes the audience on a eye pleasing and mind bending journey.