Movie Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) directed by Peyton Reed

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), aka Ant-Man, is living the good life after the events of Avengers: Endgame. He's written a book, hangs out with his family, and is a celebrity, though people mistake which Avenger he is. He likes the quiet life, though his daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) wants him to work more at saving people. She's a bit of a social protestor and has wound up in jail almost as often as Scott. She's also scientifically gifted. After a family dinner, she shows off her latest project, a machine that is mapping the Quantum Realm, the microscopic reality seen in previous films. It's broadcasting down and getting a signal back. Janet van Dyne (the original Wasp played by Michelle Pfeiffer) is very worried. While she was trapped in the Quantum Realm for thirty years, she met some unsavory types and does not want to renew their acquaintance. The family (including Hope van Dyne, the new Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), and Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man (Michael Douglas)) have a short argument and try to shut down the machine. A feedback happens and they are all sucked into the Quantum Realm, though they are separated. Scott and Cassie are by themselves, facing fantastically weird creatures with inexplicable agendas. Hank, Janet, and Hope manage to find one of Janet's old friends who is less helpful than they hoped for. The Realm is slowly being conquered by a mysterious person (Jonathan Majors) who has more than a passing interest in the new human arrivals.

The movie is a special effects extravaganza, with the strange creatures and landscapes from the Quantum Realm. The personal relationships between the Langs and the Pyms provide some grounding, but perhaps not enough to make this a serious film. The Ant-Man series has leaned into the comedy, partly from Paul Rudd's natural talents and partly from the less believable superpowers. The filmmakers put a lot of fun and entertainment into this film, and I did enjoy watching it. But there's not a lot of substance underneath all the razzle-dazzle, just enough to keep the plot moving forward. It's fun in a bat-poop crazy way and ends with lead-ins to more content coming from Marvel. Major did a good job playing the villain and apparently has a lot more to do in future Marvel movies and television shows.

Mildly recommended--there's plenty of laughs and entertainment without anything offensive or deep. This is summer popcorn filmmaking.