Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) Movie Review

Synopsis:

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) continues to balance being Ant-Man and a father. He’s joined by Hope van Dyne’s Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). Together, they embark on a mission to the Quantum Realm. Along the way, they encounter a new enemy, Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), who can phase through objects.

Review:

As a whole, Ant-Man (2015) was a moderate success. Director Peyton Reed returned for its sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp.

As with the first Ant-Man, CGI remains creative and well-realized. These, for instance, involve Ant-Man and Wasp shrinking or enlarging objects.

Consistent visuals also apply to Ant-Man and the Wasp's action scenes. Despite this, they lack the energy of the first entry.

What is also lacking is the movie's plot structure and its use of humor during integral moments.

One contributing factor to this comedy is Scott’s friend Luis (Michael Peña).

Although his scenes in Ant-Man (2015) were funny on occasion, they’re often distracting in this film.

A similar issue is also applicable to Scott Lang as a character.

Although it's titled Ant-Man and the Wasp, it’s evident that Hope van Dyne as Wasp is the primary focus throughout.

She also receives more action sequences, which are more dynamic compared with Scott’s. Ant-Man himself has more of a support role in this movie.

It is also difficult to determine if there is even a main antagonist in this story.

While they seem identifiable at first, character motivations continue to shift often.

These are important for plot progression. Regardless, there are too many cogs in the machine all happening at once.

Introducing several new ideas without explanation is a common frustration.

Yet again, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym is well suited for his role and works well in contrast to Rudd’s character.

One other familiar addition to the film is Scott’s daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson).

Her scenes still evoke a good, light-hearted tone. This is despite them lacking the same charm as the original.

Conclusion:

As a whole, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a standard effort for this film series.

This film's action sequences can be creative with their visuals, offering some entertainment.

What is often an issue is the lack of consistency in Ant-Man and the Wasp's antagonists.

It also has a problem with story beats left unexplored. If fans seek more progression for Scott’s character, it’s suggested they look elsewhere.

Sam’s Action Reaction score:

Characters - 6/10

Story - 5/10

Action - 6/10

CGI and visuals - 7/10

Soundtrack - 6/10

Overall score: 6 out of 10