Marvel’s tiniest heroes face the multiverse’s biggest villain
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Written by: Jeff Loveness
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors
Rated PG-13 for violence/action, and language
Release Date: February 17, 2023
Runtime: 2:05
This review may contain spoilers
New year, new Marvel movie
After two years of Marvel’s ‘Phase 4,’ Ant-Man and the Wasp are back to start a new chapter in the ‘Multiverse Saga,’ introducing the next Avenger-level threat to all universes – Kang.
Next Phase of the MCU
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (wow, they really do just throw the word “quantum” in front of everything) is the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, better known as the MCU. This film is the start of ‘Phase 5,’ which will bring the main ‘Multiverse Saga’ story into the open. At least, I think that’s the point of this phase. I don’t think they’ve ever been clear on the point of the phases…
Quantumania
After Avengers: Endgame, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly, NBC’s Lost) are now celebrity heroes. Now that the entire universe is safe, Scott enjoys a simpler life as an author and friendly face on the street.
Scott’s now-teenage daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton, Freaky) has secretly made a device to communicate with the Quantum Realm, where Scott was stuck twice. However, Cassie’s device sucks in Scott, Hope, and herself into the Quantum realm along with Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne (Michael Douglas, Wall Street; and Michelle Pfeiffer, Married to the Mob, respectively).
Now trapped inside, they discover the Quantum Realm is ruled by the exiled conqueror, Kang (Jonathan Majors, The Last Black Man in San Francisco), who is desperate to get out.
Marvel’s Star Wars
Once the film jumps back into the Quantum Realm, the bizarre realm has different lifeforms, vehicles, cities, and landscapes. Freedom fighters have been fighting for decades against an evil, controlling regime. The big, bad guy likes dark hallways and flowing capes. The same guy can also hold his enemies in the air just by raising his hand.
That sounds like Star Wars to me. Seriously, I was waiting for Ahsoka and the Mandalorian to show up. Disney owns them all; it could be a possible crossover. Come onnnnn, Secret War!
The immersion of the Quantum Realm with a Star Wars environment is fun and probably easy to do with Disney owning Marvel Studios and Star Wars. It makes the Quantum Realm feel like an alien world while keeping things different from the normal realm or whatever you want to call it.
The Conqueror has come!
Kinda sorta returning to the MCU is Jonathan Majors as Kang. Majors previously played a version of Kang named He Who Remains on the Disney Plus show Loki. He was an over-controlling type of everything time with an unsettling, charming personality.
This film’s version is the conquering warlord type. After decades trapped in the Quantum Realm, Kang has taken over the realm and hunts the heroes down, planning to use them to get him out and back to conquering universes. He is also so overpowered that fighting Ant-Man and the Wasp head-on seems boring to him.
The next Thanos?
Majors entered this movie with the same level of intensity as Josh Brolin’s Thanos. He’s cool, calculating, and not afraid to go to extremes to get what he wants, making Kang the next possible great threat to Marvel heroes.
Kang’s threat has been built up before Quantumania. From Loki, He Who Remains only drops subtle hints, but enough to warn of his many, many dangerous versions whom they all should fear. This film builds up Kang more before finally coming onscreen, and he’s as dangerous as everyone dreads. Even without his powerful tech armor, the dude is built like a powerhouse and easily crushes people hand-to-hand, damn near beating Ant-Man to a pulp.
Kang also has fought and killed alternate Avengers from different universes, including Ant-Man. He’s won against Earth’s Mightiest Heroes again and again. Even Thanos can’t claim that one.
Not so much funny this time
This sequel changes the feel of the Ant-Man films. The first two were more humorous and fun, but with this one, it’s adjusted to being taken more seriously. Director Peyton Reed keeps some humor, but it’s sparingly. With so much world-building and serious bad-guy moments, it almost feels like a different series.
I think the focus on Kang being the big threat to the entire MCU is why the film feels different. This is an Ant-Man film, so having Kang start as an Ant-Man villain just feels strange. Losing to one Avenger isn’t going to be as intimidating when he squares off with the whole superhero team.
Cassie’s new “stature”
You might have noticed that Scott’s daughter Cassie is different… again. While this is Cassie’s first time-fighting bad guys, this is the third actress playing her. She was originally played by Abby Ryder Fortson for the first two Ant-Man movies, but after Endgame pushed the timeline 5 years forward, Fortson was replaced by Emma Fuhrmann (for obvious age reasons). However, that was Fuhrmann’s only time, now replaced by Kathryn Newton.
Nothing against Newton (she was okay), but it was surprising to see another actress playing the older Cassie. I don’t know why they chose to replace Fuhrmann (I’m guessing Newton’s popularity), but I know I’d be crushed if I got cast as Paul Rudd’s kid and then got replaced. Maybe it was Fuhrmann herself who stepped down or got too busy with other projects. Who knows?
BILL MURRAY!
There are big names that have shown up in the MCU already. I’m still shocked that they got Robert Redford in. But none is as legendary as Bill Murray, who needs no introduction. He only has a small part in the film, but it’s always awesome to see him.
Where’s Michael Peña?
Oh, I’m taking points off for no Luis. I’m sorry, but how can you do an Ant-Man movie without Luis’s classic recaps where everyone speaks in his voice? Boo!
Also, didn’t Kevin Feige say there’s a video of Luis recapping everything from Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame? Where’s that video, Feige?! The Kaiz demands it!
Dammit, Janet
One big flaw is that Janet van Dyne knows all about Kang after being trapped in the Quantum Realm with him. I get not telling Hank and Hope about Kang when she’s safe at home. But once everyone got sucked in (giggity), don’t you think you should give everyone a heads up?
You can’t just say “They are hunting for us” and expect them to keep quiet about that. Oh, we have a long walk to wherever you’re leading us? You can talk and walk at the same time, though, can’t ya? Start talking, you hot GILF lady!
Now that I’m thinking more about it, weren’t they messing around with the Quantum Realm at the end of Ant-Man and the Wasp? She didn’t seem to pipe up about how dangerous that place was then, either!
Ant-Man and the Who…?
You know, if you’re gonna keep pairing Ant-Man and the Wasp in your title, maybe give her more stuff to do in the movies. Hope van Dyne (a.k.a. the Wasp) barely does much in this film. For the bulk of the movie, she’s a tagalong (same as Hank Pym) with Janet, the seasoned realm explorer. She comes to Scott’s aid in a weird time probability scene (one I really can’t really explain; it’s just so weird). She finally gets her bad-ass moment towards the end when she and Scott tag-team on Kang. Make her do that more!
Rotten responses
48% rotten?! How the hell did it get that low a score? So, it’s only a little better than the original Justice League (39%)?
Quantumania is getting the hit of being the lowest-rated/reviewed MCU film. This means it’s below Thor: Love and Thunder, Thor: Dark World (ouch, two Thor movies), and Eternals. I try not to “fanboy” over MCU films, but seriously, why so much hate on this?
I mean, there are some things I can think of that might be why many downvoted Quantumania, but they all hinder spoilers. And that’s a no-no.
Something, something, Quantum-something
I thoroughly enjoyed Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania despite all the hate. It had a great villain, it was still fun, and it set up several ideas for future Marvel projects. The drop in comedy was a bit of a disappointment, and some CGI spoilers are just weird to look at.
Ultimately, this movie is more to set up Kang and his approaching attack on the superheroes. Because of this, the film pushes Ant-Man and the Wasp away from being the main focus. I don’t know, maybe it would have made more sense to make Quantumania into its own thing instead of it being an Ant-Man and the Wasp sequel.
And the lack of Michael Pena was a serious blow. #BringBackLuisRecaps
There’s not one, but two post-credit scenes! Well, actually, that’s a bit of the usual with Marvel, isn’t it? Both are teases for bigger things to come for the MCU, not just throwaway jokes. They’re worth waiting for.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is currently playing in theaters.
