Movie review: Ant-Man and the Wasp

THE THING about this film is that it reminds me more of the science fiction serials from the early days of cinema, rather than a superhero movie.
Sure, the size- and density-shifting hero fought alongside Captain America against the other Avengers during the Civil War (a fact that they will not let you forget in the first half of the movie), but it is the fictitious science and drama behind the story that drives this insect-themed flick, not the villains.
As a Marvel Superhero movie, Ant-Man and the Wasp is as weak as its villain’s backstory. I have no sympathy nor care for the reality-phasing Ghost and her motivation. She looks cool but serves no real purpose in this movie.
Remove the bad guys from the movie, and you will not lose any sense of urgency or enjoyment of the story, just some action scenes.
It also does not help that the movie drums to the same beat as the 2015 Ant-Man movie, so much so that they do that storytelling shtick by Luis (Michael Peña) again, but this time, it has lost its novelty.
That said, the plot is good. After being caught for illegally using the Ant-Man suit on foreign soil in Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is put under house arrest for two years.
Days before he is to be released, he has a strange dream that he believes is connected to Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), now the Wasp.
One thing leads to another, and Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Dr Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), the original Ant-Man, are on the run again. This time, they are on a mission to rescue Hope’s mother, Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the original Wasp.
I thoroughly enjoy Ant-Man and the Wasp as a science-fiction movie, removed from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I especially enjoy the family scene with Hope, Hank, and Scott. Rudd’s ability to meld into character was laugh-out-loud good.
However, those who cannot separate this movie from the rest of the Avengers pantheon will find this movie lukewarm and one of the milder ones, especially when compared to the grand Avengers: Infinity War.
If you are going to watch this movie, see it on the biggest screen you can find, and stay for the mid-credit scene.
Forget the end credit scene because if you have seen the trailer, you have already seen it.