Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania gives fans Marvel meets Star Wars. It kicks off Phase 5 with insanity, action, and a heartwarming father-daughter story.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the start of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 5 and it is ushered in with a sense of high stakes and dread, something that is very new to the Ant-Man franchise. These films have always been silly and fun, they do star the hilarious Paul Rudd, after all. Separating him from his group of ex-con friends and sending him into the depths of the Quantum Realm and putting him up against one of the greatest villains of all time, Kang the Conqueror, proves to add urgency and intensity to his story.
In Ant-Man and the Wasp, Janet Van Dyne was rescued after thirty years in the Quantum Realm, however she really didn’t have too much to say about it. When secrets are revealed, Scott and his family are sucked into the realm, quite literally, and she must help get them through it, using the connections she made when she lived there. A whole new world, worlds even, is discovered — answering one of the biggest questions we were left with after the second film — where did she get that cloak?
Marvel Meets Star Wars
In all seriousness though, it is is incredible to see what is discovered down there. Based off of actual microscopic photos, this world feels very much like Marvel meets Star Wars. The MCU has given us films like Guardians of the Galaxy that take place in space, and while the sets certainly have a similar design, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania takes things to a whole new level.
This world that we live in for the majority of the film is absolutely stunning. The CGI is on point after it finds its footing in the second act (and trust us, we looked for issues all the way through). Viewers are introduced to a variety of new characters, most of which are insanely bizarre, but in a really fun way (Veb, anyone?). They are essentially aliens, even though technically this whole movie could be taking place in someone’s fingernail.
It is easy to lose yourself in the backgrounds of this movie, looking at all of the gorgeous scenery. The VFX team really knocked it out of the park, and they should be recognized for that.
A Heart-Filled Story
A movie can be beautiful to look at, but have an awful story though, so thankfully Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has a good one. Scott has missed a lot of his daughter’s life because of jail and getting blipped out of existence, so in this film he is trying to make up for lost time as best as he can.
Those who know about Kang, know that he is the master of time so that is something he can give back to Scott. There are parallels drawn throughout the film between his lost time with Cassie, and Janet’s lost time with Hope that really work within the movie. Both parents are mourning this loss, but so are the kids. Living without a parent is not easy and they have a lot of making up to do. Can they be tempted by Kang’s offers? Well, you will just have to watch the movie to find out.
There are also some other great lessons here, like about looking out for the little guy (conveniently the title of Scott Lang’s book — which yes, it’s real!) and helping out when you can. Some people just can’t be selfish, even when they really want to be. This is a reoccurring theme when it comes to Scott, but also when it comes to Cassie, as she has some great words to inspire MODOK.
When it comes to the father-daughter relationship, Kathryn Newton stepping in as Cassie Lang was a great choice. We aren’t sure why they didn’t go with the actress they recently used, but Newton has proven herself more than once that she is worthy of fantastic roles. When audiences see her suit up they will be thrilled, because not only does it feel like she has a genuine connection with this cast, she kicks some serious butt.
Big Action Sequences
Speaking of suiting up, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is sure to give fans more than just a heartwarming story, it brings a whole lot of action as well. The first act drags on a little long, but once we finally get into the Quantum Realm and the nitty-gritty of it all, there are some truly epic battle sequences. Ant-Man’s ability to shrink and grow always adds a bit of fun to the fights, and with a whole collection of superheroes with the same power joining forces, the action is a really good time.
These moments are sprinkled throughout the film, which helps to keep things moving along. Thankfully the two hour runtime is never really felt, despite the movie taking a little while to get going.
Jonathan Majors As Kang
The clear standout of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror. This really should come as no surprise to anyone who watched his performance in Loki as He Who Remains. The man is extremely talented and to be able to play a different version of the same character (a variant, if you will) and do it so well is no easy feat.
We don’t want to get into heavy spoilers, but just know there are several versions in this movie, and Majors adds something new and unique to each one. It is incredible to watch on screen, and fans of his will be in awe of his talent.
Kang steals the show with his interactions with each of the main characters in this movie. He is terrifying and bone-chilling, certain to give the audience literal goosebumps when he talks. Kang is a bad guy, there is no doubt about that, and easily one of the best MCU villains yet. Phase 5 is titled The Kang Dynasty after all, and Majors has earned this role and importance in the future of the MCU ten fold.
While he is phenomenal opposite everyone, his time shared on screen with Michelle Pfeiffer is some of the best work seen in a while. They play off each other perfectly and you can’t help but eat up their performances.
What Doesn’t Work
This movie is not all sunshine and rainbows though, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has its issues. We already talked about the first act feeling like a bit of a struggle, which thankfully corrects itself once the second act hits. However, there are some other things that don’t work very well.
Once the family enters the Quantum Realm, it feels like you are dropped into the middle of an already progressing story that you somehow missed part of. There is a war going on, and it takes a little while to catch up and become familiar with the story. Not necessarily a bad thing, but some viewers might feel a bit lost at first. The new characters that we are introduced to, specifically Quaz and Jentorra, are integral to the story but it takes far too long to warm up to them because of this.
Bill Murray plays Krylar and we cannot help but think that he was originally a much bigger part of the story. He is deemed as problematic now and his part could have easily been edited down. If this is not the case, which is possible, he was still very underused and something was… off about his part. Seems like such a major name in the industry is very underused in this film. However, what we do get of him is a lot of fun and provides some good laughs.
Speaking of laughs, Ant-Man has always been the comedic relief of the high stakes MCU, so to have some weight added to his story is new for everyone, and it does take some getting used to. His friend group of ex-cons (Luis, Kurt, and Dave) are certainly missed. It feels strange to have an Ant-Man movie without them, but at least viewers will still find themselves laughing during this movie.
Let’s Talk About M.O.D.O.K.
Here’s the thing about M.O.D.O.K. — he is going to be a love or hate part of this story, much like the goats in Thor: Love and Thunder. Some people found them to be absolutely hilarious and the longer the joke went on, the more they laughed. Others could not stand them, and we have even seen people say they were by far the worst part of that movie.
On paper, when you look at what M.O.D.O.K. actually is in this film (we don’t want to give it away for those who don’t know because it works much better as a surprise), he should not work. But he ends up delivering some of the best lines in the movie, as ridiculous as they are. His design is incredible — the colors, the blades, the suit — look fantastic on screen. His role in the movie is fantastic, and actually important.
However some people will certainly feel like he was done dirty as he isn’t exactly how comic book readers might imagine. That said, he is pretty close to it. Think about it. Still, M.O.D.O.K. is going to be a big miss for some fans, while being a standout character for others.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania End Credit Scenes
When it comes to the mid and end credit scenes in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, they are not an ant playing drums. These are important for the MCU moving forward and absolutely worth staying in your seat for. The film clocks in at just two hours and moves at a pretty great pace, so it won’t be a struggle to do this.
This movie is very much a set up for what is to come in Phase 5 and both of these scenes are integral to what comes next.
Overall Thoughts
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the start of Phase 5 of the MCU and it kicks it off with heart, action, and stunning visuals. There are a lot of new and bizarre characters to meet in a world that feels very much Marvel meets Star Wars. The story is about lost time with family, and there are sure to be moments that touch each and every person. At the same time, they did not skimp out on the action.
Everyone is incredible in their roles, but it comes as no surprise that Jonathan Majors is the standout. Kang the Conqueror is a terrifying villain and he steps into this role perfectly. Kathryn Newton is also new to the MCU, and she does a wonderful job as Cassie as well. It seems that every main character has their moment to kick some butt and come to the rescue, which is really nice to see.
While it is not a perfect movie, it is a great starting point for The Kang Dynasty. Things are not left on a happy note, and Kang is clearly just getting started. We cannot wait to see how it all plays out, as we move into the future of the MCU.
Rating: 3 out of 5
NEXT: What Is The Quantum Realm? Inspirations & Explanations
About Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible.
Directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Kevin Feige, p.g.a. and Stephen Broussard, p.g.a., “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania” also stars Jonathan Majors as Kang, David Dastmalchian as Veb, Katy O’Brian as Jentorra, William Jackson Harper as Quaz and Bill Murray as Lord Krylar.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania opens in theaters on Feb. 17, 2023.
