ANT-MAN – Another Take

“Face front” all you Marvel-maniacs! The movie universe is expanding by actually getting…smaller. When we last visited the studio mega-franchise, just about ten weeks ago, metallic maniac Ultron ( a really major fail from Stark Industries) was out to destroy humanity until the Avengers (lead by the big heavy-hitters like Thor and the Hulk) pulled the plug on his plans. And story lines were in place for a new cosmic menace. But this new entry is not set way, way up there like last Summer’s surprise smash GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. Our new hero is more down to Earth (many times he’s a fraction of an inch from Earth). Non-comics fans may be surprised that he’s actually one of the earliest Marvel characters, almost pre-dating the age of heroes by his introduction in the SF suspense story titled “The Man in the Ant Hill” from the anthology book “Tales to Astonish”, issue #27. Soon that title subject, scientist Henry Pym, donned some tights to become ANT-MAN and was the lead hero for that book. Eventually, he and his fiancée Janet Van Dyke (now his crime-fighting partner in size, the wondrous “Wasp”) were founding members of the Avengers along with Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk. But while those other heroes gained fans becoming Marvel icons, Hank and Janet didn’t enjoy the same adulation, even after Pym adjusted his powers so he could also grow as “Giant-Man” (hey, he was the one that pulled the “Cap-cicle” out of the sea). Not longer after, they shared the “Astonish” book with the Hulk, and were eventually booted out in favor of Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner (former villain, now aquatic hero). The Pyms continued to be mainstays of The Avengers monthly with Hank adopting the new persona of the arrogant “Yellowjacket” during a memorable story arc. Then in the mid-seventies, Marvel decided to relaunch Ant-Man as a solo star. But Pym would not be donning the helmet and spandex, instead former criminal Scott Lang would take over as the insect-sized adventurer. It’s Mr. Lang who’s at the helm of the new Marvel Studios release, ANT-MAN.

The action begins in a prologue prior to the now familiar red-tinted, flipping comics pages logo. We’re more than 25 years in the past as secretive science genius Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym (Michael Douglas) quite forcefully refuses to hand his miracle creation, the “Pym Particle” which can shrink the space between the body’s molecules allowing a person to become a tiny warrior, to the leaders of S.H.I.E.L.D. (a couple of said leaders are familiar faces). The secret will stay with him, even to the president day as he visits his former tech company Pym Labs (Henry was voted out by the board several years ago). He’s met by his daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), who lead the coup fueling their strained relationship. In one of the research rooms, they join a big group to hear the presentation by Pym’s old protegé, and now head of the firm, Darren Cross (Corey Stoll). Cross touts his new variation on Pym’s formula (Hank’s kept it to himself), insisting the they’ll soon crack the code and be able to shrink living beings as part of the “Yellowjacket” project and an unstoppable military and covert fighting force. This greatly concerns Henry. Meanwhile Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is finally released from San Quentin. Known as a “cyber Robin Hood”, Lang had learned that his former employers in the banking industry were bilking his customers of billions, so he snuck in and restored the depleted accounts. But after he was busted and did his time, nobody will give him a job or a break other than his old co-hort (his “Friar Tuck”), Luis (Michael Pena). When he shows up uninvited to the birthday party of his six year-old daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson), Scott is told by ex-wife Maggie (Judy Greer) and her new beau, a police detective (!) named Paxton (Bobby Cannavale), that there will no visitation until he gets a steady job and sends child support. Scott’s in a corner, so he finally tells Luis that he’ll be part of a “sure thing” burglary along with hacker Kurt (David Dastmalchian) and “wheelman” Dave (T.I.). But when Lang breaks into the safe in the deserted house he only finds a weird motorcycle outfit (an od metal helmet and a red and grey jumpsuit). He’s been set up by…well, needless to say the con and the brain are soon a very unlikely team in a race against time to stop Cross from selling his deadly tech to the highest bidders.

Casting a super-hero can get pretty tricky (see Seth Rogan as the GREEN HORNET…or…maybe not). Happily reluctant hero Lang is a perfect fit for the ever-charming Rudd, who’s closer in style to Robert Downey, Jr. than the Chris trio (Hemsworth, Evans, and Pratt). Rudd gets to run the gamut of emotions in the role: despair, desperation, determination, panic, unease, and ultimately focused courage, all the while never losing that expert comic timing. His Ant-Man is really every man. On the more serious (really nearly totally somber) is Douglas as Rudd’s surrogate teacher/father. He’s Obi-Wan Kenobi crossed with Doc Brown and Fred MacMurray from the flubber flicks. Pym’s haunted by a devastating past loss, but he’s got to set it aside in order to turn the reins (and the ants) over to Lang. Lilly as his daughter is not so quick to put aside that loss, and for much of the film, she keeps that chip, along with countless others, on her shoulders. Hope is almost the “rom-com” “uptight” business woman with a heart of ice that the hero must try to thaw. She’s somewhat hampered by the severe bob cut, a hairstyle that invokes the Wasp’s 60’s pageboy. As one of Lilly’s former co-stars might say, “Gotta’ see yer’ eyes, freckles.”. Menace emanates from Stoll in her first scene (another bald villain, like Jeff Bridges in the first IRON MAN? C’mon Marvel Studios!). He’s a  cold, heartless cobra attired in a slick $1000 suit. Take the kiddies out to the lobby for a scene of casual cruelty with a co-worker who disagreed with him that matches any of Loki’s most vile, vicious acts. It takes some time for him to ascend to full super-villain status, but it’s worth the wait since Stoll makes a truly formidable foe. Thankfully Pena is there for some great comic relief as the always excited and often giddy Luis. His stories of past interactions are some of the film’s hilarious highlights (and dig the ultra-cool bartender in the final story). Actually he’s the leader of a pretty great comedy team (Pyms refers to them as “those three wombats) with the entertaining T.I. and Dastmalchian. Cannavale is terrific as the exasperated cop, who can’t seem to get away from his girlfriend’s ex. And Fortson, with the wide “parking lot” grin, just may be this Summer’s most adorable moppet.

There’s been considerable articles over the last few months concerning the behind the scenes turmoil occurring during this film’s production (it’s been in the works for several years). Beloved director Edgar Wright (SHAUN OF THE DEAD) left for the film before shooting began. This has caused many to muse about how a Wright-directed Ant-Man would play, and coming down on the finished film, because it’s not how they imagined Wright would have done it. This isn’t fair since the Wright Ant-Man doesn’t exist other than in the minds of many fans. The Peyton Reed ANT-MAN does and is in theatres now. And Mr. Reed, who is mainly known for comedies like THE BREAK-UP, and BRING IT ON. proves to be an excellent action, fantasy, SF film maker. He evokes that child-like sense of wonder, especially as Scott first shrinks down in a bathtub that seems several football fields long, to those tentative encounter with some terrific CGI ants (A BUG’S LIFE and ANTZ have nothin’ on “Ant-ony” and his pals). In the former sequence we recall those great late show staples like DR. CYCLOPS and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, even the kitchy TV classic “Land of the Giants”, but with truly state of the art EFX. With the later, Scott, riding atop a carpenter ant with buzzing wings, seems like a real world AVATAR or a high-tech Lone Ranger. In one scene, he leads the ants on a charge like Tarzan and his elephants in the finale of most of the MGM series. Those “picnic crashers” are pretty handy (could this make the return of “Ant Farms” as kids toys?). The tone may be thanks to the screenplay and story that Wright worked on, along with Joe Cornish and polished by Adam McKay and Rudd himself! And the film is more independent of the Marvel movie-verse than the other entries (save for those GUARDIANS). However we do meet another hero, and as we learned from MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS and 50 years of Marvel comics, when heroes first meet, battle ensues! The best thing about this film may be the lack of non-stop destruction that usually takes up the last act of super-hero movies. No “disaster porn” here, although a home remodeler will surely have  to be called. Oh, and one building does exp…er…implode! Clocking in at just a tad over 2 hours (the post credits scene is back! Yeah!), it avoids the blockbuster ‘bloat” and wafts thru the multiplex on a breezy script full of charm and wit. As much as I love Cap, the Avengers, and the Guardians, this may be the most entertaining, all-audiences, kid-friendly Marvel movie since the first IRON MAN in 2008. ANT-MAN proves that good, fun things really do come in the teeny, tiniest of packages (and heroes).

4.5 Out of 5