small heroes and big stakes for Marvel, which reveals its new villain

Ant-Man is perhaps not the first quoted when drawing up the list of Avengers, this almost inexhaustible reservoir of Marvel heroes. However, he has two first successful solo films (released in 2015 and 2018) and a key role in the last big fight that brought together all the characters of the license. And it’s up to the old burglar – became ant-man thanks to his prodigious combination – that is the responsibility of opening phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). A new succession of films and series that will span two years and lead superheroes to the farthest reaches of the multiverse.

In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) finds himself propelled into the quantum world after an unfortunate scientific experiment by his daughter Cassie. Accompanied by his sidekick Hope (Evangeline Lilly) but also by the parents of the Wasp, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), Ant-Man will quickly discover that the subatomic dimension and its peoples are controlled by the mysterious Kang. Exiled in the infinitely small, he built an empire there while waiting to find a way to resume his conquest of the different universes.

New threat

If the biggest fans of Marvel have already been able to discover his face in the series Loki, actor Jonathan Majors makes his big debut here in the costume of Kang the Conqueror in the cinema. Faced with Ant-Man and the Wasp, Kang finds himself deprived of some of his powers, but also of his ship allowing him to travel in time. But he already has all the characteristics of the charismatic and powerful villain, feared by all, and immediately poses as the biggest threat to the heroes since their victory against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. An enemy left to last, which should multiply the appearances until the releases of the films Avengers 5 and 6, scheduled for 2025 and 2026.

Despite this major contribution to the license, this third installment of the adventures of the ant-man struggles to get the Marvel rocket off again, which has been somewhat lost over the past four years in plots as convoluted as they are devoid of issues. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is unfortunately no exception to the rule, the fault of an overly predictable scenario, an ultra-linear construction and a glaring lack of dramaturgy in the key scenes.

Star Wars with Marvel sauce

Quantumania has also lost the characteristic humor of the previous Ant Man, probably because Scott Lang became more careful and responsible after the eclipse which separated him from his family for five years. The repeated and assumed references to Star Wars in the sets, the ships and the eclectic creatures leaning on the bar (there will always be only one “cantina”) of the quantum world are not enough to breathe a soul into the film, still less to make it a modern reference in science fiction.

The appearance of Modok, a well-known comic book villain, was expected. But in the end, it would almost create discomfort as the design and animation of the character leave something to be desired. Only young Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton) and her heroine costume bring excitement to this frenetic action series that stretches over 125 minutes. To believe that the salvation of the Avengers goes through the seizure of power by its new generation.

The sheet

Gender : action, fantasy, science fiction
Director: Peyton Reed
Country : UNITED STATES
Actors: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonathan Majors
Duration : 2:05
Exit : February 15 2023
Distributer : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Summary: Ihe superheroes and partners Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne – aka Ant-Man and the Wasp – will experience new adventures. With Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne – Hope’s parents – the duo will explore the subatomic dimension, interact with strange new creatures and embark on an odyssey that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.