Movie Title: Ant-Man
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Writer: Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay and Paul Rudd
Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Anthony Mackie, Judy Greer, Abby Ryder Fortson, Michael Peña, David Dastmalchian, T.I., Wood Harris, Hayley Atwell, John Slattery, Martin Donovan
Review: Sometimes the biggest problems need the smallest heroes! Ant-Man is the 12th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and it's one of the most creative and fun!
Ant-Man tells the story of cat burglar Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) who's trying to get his life on the straight and narrow, reconnect with his daughter, and to be thought of as more than a convicted criminal...but old habits die hard. That's when Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) gives Scott a chance at redemption as the world's tiniest hero - The Ant-Man!
You would think as the twelfth film in a series, Ant-Man would be a little stale and show the MCU is losing creative steam, but this definitely reinvigorates the superhero film genre with its humor, heart, harrowing visual effects and stunt work, and a heist.
Instead of Ant-Man saving the world from alien invaders, a planet-destroying laser, or a giant monstrous creature, it's a heist movie. Pym, Lang, and Pym's daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) must prevent a new miniaturized, weaponized suit from falling into the wrong hands by stealing it. It's a small-scale story (and that's a good thing) that's filled with interesting characters, a fun heist, spectacular action, and some of the most creative sequences I've even seen. Heck, the finale of the film takes place on a little girl's train table playset! Did you ever think a superhero battle would take place there? It's such an enjoyable sequence!
Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll chewing the scenery, Bobby Cannavale, Anthony Mackie, Judy Greer, Abby Ryder Fortson, the wonderfully enthusiastic Michael Peña, David Dastmalchian, T.I., and the great Michael Douglas all look like they're having the best time! It's great to see Michael Douglas on screen again. I miss that guy!
This is definitely one of my favorite Marvel movies. I enjoy it more with every viewing. And don't be discouraged if you haven't seen all of the other Marvel movies that came before. Ant-Man is pretty much a stand-alone story with a few brief connections to the goings-on with the Avengers and such, but they won't bug you.
Fun Fact: Garrett Morris, who portrays a cab driver in the film, appeared as Ant-Man in the Saturday Night Live: Margot Kidder/The Chieftains (1979) sketch, which was the first live-action appearance of the hero.