Family (and Size) Matters Most in Playful 'Ant-Man and the Wasp'

Ant-Man and The Wasp; Marvel Studios

It gets small, then gets big, small again, then gets giant. Humor is common in Marvel movies but it's the playfulness in size that makes Peyton Reed's Ant-Man and the Wasp a little more fun among others.


Paul Rudd is back once again to put on the 'Ant-Man' suit. This time with The Wasp played by Evangeline Lilly, as they work together with the help of Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to resolve the mystery of the disappearance of Wasp's mother (played by the transcendent Michelle Pfeiffer) in the Quantum Tunnel.

The film picks up after Captain America: Civil War in which Scott must complete his house arrest as part of his deal after helping Steve Rogers. One would think there would be less action, and more family and while the latter is heartwarmingly true, the action here is as fun, if not more, as the first one. Both Ant-Man and The Wasp's families are in the core of this film and it's almost as heartwarming as it is comedic. Not to mention its beauty, as it is backdropped by the pretty streets of San Francisco, and their version of the void is breathtaking. So breathtaking that it has one of the most beautiful kissing scenes ever in it and it doesn't even involve Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly.

Ant-Man; Marvel Studios

Ant-Man and the Wasp has a lot of weapons on why it stands out--family values, shrinking superheroes, solving a mystery rather than focusing on a defeating a villain, Paul Rudd, Michelle Pfeiffer. My favorite, though, is Michael Peña's kooky character. Or scratch that and make it, Michael Peña period. He's hilarious especially when he narrates stories from his point of view and we see other actors speaking through his voice. That's one of the things I love about Ant-Man and I'm glad that they included some of it here.

All in all, it's one heck of an entertaining and well-balanced movie letting humor sashay throughout the movie, action to elevate the story, and family to live in its core. Family matters most here and it will speak so much by the end of the film. It also answers one thing: why is Ant-Man not in Avengers: Infinity War? The answer is a devastating bummer, at least not for Ant-Man. But I'm not gonna spoil anything.

'Avengers: Infinity War' is the most ambitious crossover event in history. No, really.

'Thanos'; Photo Credit: Marvel Studios

Tagged as the "most ambitious crossover event in history", Avengers Infinity War lived up to it, and did not live up to this catchphrase all at the same time. One thing's for sure, it's definitely going to be the talk of the town like any other Marvel movies. They've always been good in marketing their films, and I think they outdid themselves once again with their latest.

All our favorite Marvel heroes are gathered in this film without knots and tangles. It did not feel overcrowded at all, and it goes to show how each one of them are likable and has something integral to offer. Punchlines are also a bit reserved in this that it maintains the seriousness and inevitable doom that's looming in the background. That or there's really just a yin yang of punchlines and gravitas.

Photo Credit: Marvel Studios

It did not live up to the hype, only in the sense that they were not able to include everyone that we've already seen before from them. Not that it's needed in the story, they did a great job making everyone essential, but people are going to look for this and that, that it might feel like a little let down for some of the fans if they don't see their favorite heroes (or antiheroes) in it.

People should not complain, as it's a good resolution to what they've already presented, and a good beginning to the future of Marvel cinematic universe. They have balls with what they did with the film. They definitely did not hold back, and I'm pretty pleased with it. If it means we won't see another unnecessary sequel for each and every Marvel hero, then fantastic. Half kidding, half serious.

Case in point, the Russo brothers, Marvel and the whole team pulled this off in a mighty way. Might be disappointing for some, but they stood for something, something chaotic and predictably controversial, and I think that's beautiful.