Item: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Rating: 8
Author: JimmyO

PLOT: After Scott Lang’s daughter, Cassie, accidentally sends a message into the Quantum Realm, things get complicated. And soon, Scott, Hope, and their family face impossible odds after getting pulled deep within.

REVIEW: Paul Rudd is a delight. The actor shines at comedy and has been proven capable of bringing on the action. While I’ve not been an avid fan of the Ant-Man films thus far, I appreciated his work and what director Peyton Reed was trying to do. Now we have the third in his trilogy with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. It’s a weird, trippy, and psychedelic adventure and pretty damn entertaining. With the return of Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Michael Douglas, we have an imaginative science fiction sequel that would fit right in with Doctor Who or Star Wars. The humor is well intact, yet the happenings here are more impactful on the MCU than the previous two films featuring Scott Lang. Did I mention weird?

With Ant-Man and the Wasp, Michelle Pfeiffer took on the role of Janet Van Dyne, Hope’s mother. She was lost in the Quantum Realm for thirty years and finally rescued. And this time around, Janet plays a much more significant part in the story. After Scott’s now eighteen-year-old daughter Cassie (played this time by Freaky star Kathryn Newton) invents a device to connect to this mysterious place, she makes one major mistake. When Janet discovers what Cassie did, she is terrified of the consequences. And her fears prove worthy when they are all pulled into this wild, dangerous hidden universe. And when they do arrive, Scott and crew realize that Janet is far more capable than they are after she takes charge and attempts to protect them from the powerful Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).

I enjoyed the hell out of this flick. And yes, it was the best of the three Ant-Man features for this viewer. Thankfully, I appreciate that Marvel is taking on a more unusual path with this one. Visually speaking, there is much to admire in this beautifully bizarre sequel. The set design and the myriad of creatures that star alongside Ant-Man and crew bring a heavy dose of sci-fi insanity. Many coming out of the screening felt like they were watching a Star Wars flick or something of that nature. They are right. The creatures, the world created, and the magnitude of what Kang is capable of make for an unexpected watch. And having the film’s length of just over two hours makes for an engagingly exciting popcorn and drink type of moviegoing experience.

The M.V.P.’s here are Michelle Pfeiffer and Jonathan Majors as Kang. It was a pleasure to see Ms. Pfeiffer take on such an integral part of this story. The actress brings gravitas and grace to Janet and handles the action sequences beautifully. While this is unlikely to get as much acclaim as Angela Bassett deservedly garnered for her Academy Award-nominated work in Wakanda Forever, Pfeiffer is outstanding here. As for Majors, the actor brings depth and soul to one of the most interesting villains in the current MCU. Here, Kang is a layered and fascinating man capable of horrendous acts, yet there is more to him than that. He and Pfeiffer work exceptionally well together, and it was thrilling to see the two bring such energy to this sequel.

As for the rest of the cast, Douglas, Rudd, and Lilly all shine in their performances. Kathryn Newton is terrific as well. The father/daughter storyline adds a lot of heart. And thankfully, the family dynamic makes for a worthwhile thrills and chills flick. Also notable are the surprisingly engaging side characters, especially M.O.D.O.K. Again, did I mention weird? You’ll see what I mean. And then there is a superb cameo for every film lover with Krylar. I will not spoil that one because seeing it play out on an IMAX screen was very satisfying. And besides the fact, it’s easy to find out for yourself, but I’d recommend you don’t. And then there is a gelatinous little creature who would love to have holes. The little fellow offered my favorite moment in the film, one that would give the “Killer Klowns From Outer Space” a little happiness.

Along with Reed, screenwriter Jeff Loveness creates a balance between all the elements on display. From the imaginative look of the film to the dramatic tension, it’s a solid sci-fi entry into Marvel. The humor is well placed and rarely lessons the stakes of the more action-oriented moments. It also offers a couple of worthwhile post-credit moments for fans. And considering how big this universe has become, it still plays as enough of a standalone feature that those who haven’t caught the small-screen stories can easily invest in what’s happening on-screen. It’s an easy watch, but with the outlandish nature of the story and setting, the film is likely to be divisive for some.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is funny, heartfelt, and exciting, and the villain is a worthy foe. Pfieffer and Majors shine. Most of the jokes work – with some falling flat – and perhaps there are a few minor visual effects that are less effective, but the weirdness made it work. And man, did I love that final sequence. Again, it was bizarre as hell, but it all ultimately put a massive smile on my face for a couple of hours. Tonally, this may be off-putting for those looking for a more straightforward MCU flick, but I loved the strangeness of it all. And with the film finally arriving this coming Friday, you’ll have your chance to visit the Quantum Realm and kick off Marvel Phase 5.