Review of Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) by Johnathon W — 14 Jul 2018

Entertaining entry into the "Ant-Man" franchise that continues the fun of the original but an underdeveloped script keeps it from jumping to a classic. Paul Rudd is excellent, as usual, giving Scott Lang his bumbling charm that you can't help but love him, even when he does stupid things.

Of course, he gets great support from the rest of the cast, with it great seeing Evangeline Lily finally becoming Wasp while Michael Douglas as Hank Pym gives the movie it's gravitas as he's racing to save his wife.

Sadly, other actors are underused, particularly Laurence Fishbourne and Michelle Pfeiffer, and as fun as Walton Goggins is, his Sunny Birch is more a distraction than a real threat. Behind the camera, Peyton Reed gets the action exciting yet fun, with some innovative action scenes (the final chase through San Francisco is a prime example) along with a more personal plot (the goal is to rescue Janet Van Dyne, Hank's wife and Hope's mother).

Ghost (nicely played by Hannah John-Kamen) is beautifully realized visually as well, along one a more personal origin that makes you understand her motivations. Unfortunately, the screenwriters make it a bit too complicated, particularly her relationship to the Pyms, and could have easily been simplified for a nicer contrast with the Pym's.

All and all, a fun MCU film from beginning to end, but still the weakest of 2018.