MCU Phase 5 introduces Kang to shrinking audience satisfaction, becoming an even larger challenge to conquer, than Thanos…
60% Warm
Synopsis: “Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, along with Hope’s parents, Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne, and Lang’s daughter, Cassie, go on a new adventure exploring the Quantum Realm that pushes their limits and pits them against Kang the Conqueror.”
Studio: Marvel Studios
Streamer: In Theatres & Disney+
Release Date: February 17, 2023
Format: Film,
Genre: Live Action
Sub-Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Comic Book, Sci-Fi,
Runtime: 124 minutes
Director: Peyton Reed
Writer: Jeff Loveness
Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Kathryn Newton, David Dastmalchian, William Jackson Harper, Katy O’Brian, Bill Murray
Characters: Scott Lang, Hope van Dyne, Hank Pym, Janet van Dyne, Cassie Lang, Kang the Conqueror
Trailer: https://youtu.be/5WfTEZJnv_8
REVIEW
The smallest Avenger, Ant-Man, is back! He and his gang of tiny heroes are here to tap-punch-tap… or kickstart, Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), leading up to its next big-bad, super-villain, in the Phase 6 film, Avengers: Kang Dynasty (2025).
While technically, Kang’s first Marvel Studios introduction came in the Loki (2021) Disney+ streaming series. If not a fan of the Marvel Comics, this film will be most viewer’s first introduction to Kang. The variant, we saw in Loki is “He Who Remains” as opposed to the antagonist in Quantumania is, “The Conquer” as we will talk about in this review.
Before we get started, have you watched Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023) yet? If so, what did you think about the film, its direction, cast, the story, cinematography, soundtrack and overall themes?
I saw the film on opening day, in IMAX! I do this for all Marvel, Bond, DC, Jurassic, Pixar, Star Wars-type properties (well, used to, for Star Wars, which has been woefully extinct these days).
My primary reason for catching these types of properties, in the theater vs. waiting for them to stream (this is an AppFlicks: Your Voice of Streaming JouleView Review, after all)… is to ensure that,
a) The plot is not spoiled,
b) While the theater experience has become disappointing as of late (broken seats, sticky floors, etc), I am an AMC A-List Member and believe it is important to support theaters, and
c) Films, should be seen on IMAX!
SPOILERS
Assuming that you have seen the film, here’s my short and sweet spoiler review. Was the film, enjoyable? Yes! Was the film, amazing? No!
What was good? The cast / characters! With the exception of now adult-Cassie Lang, most of the characters are the strong point of the film. While the attractive and charming Kathryn Newton’s portrayal of Ant-Man’s daughter is well done, the character is…annoying. The modern-day, over the top, female-lead or co-star is once again a brilliant know-it-all, Mary-Sue who has flaws and makes mistakes that have zero, long-term consequences, because they are super-smart or accomplish some super amazing tasks, that the more qualified members of the team, simply do not think of, or for whatever reason, are incapable of doing. For me, this was super-annoying and took me out of the film, several times.
The tone, look and feel of his highly Science Fiction-influenced (more similar to Guardians Of The Galaxy than most other MCU films) is generally, better paced than Phase 4 films/series and far less offensive, aside from the silly out of character actions taken, to set-up the plot. Overall, I did not find it insulting to the audience’s intelligence, with the exception of Cassie, wanting to “help” others in need, placing her in prison and getting them captured by Kang’s forces. Final Cassie complaint. She had her Ant-woman suit, but didn’t turn it, “on” when her life was in danger at the start of the film, only later? Really!
What else was good? The story was decent! Quantumania is essential, as it sets-up Phase 5 and 6, providing the big screen introduction of Kang. For the most part, Kang was presented as someone all-powerful, like a Thanos, who was to be feared.
Did they succeed? During the flashbacks between Jonathan Majors’ Kang and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Janet van Dyne…absolutely! In scenes when Kang threatened Ant-man and Cassie, he was menacing. During the final battle, in his suit, against the populace of the Quantum realm, he was truly powerful… that was until, he was defeated by a comical MODOK, a group of Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) ants and when Wasp / Hope van Dyne’s push into the multiverse power core to finish him-up.
While Kang’s power, the multiverse and his variant’s mission, to rule or destroy every world was well set-up in Loki and Quantumania was diminished by his unearned defeat.
This film (and future titles in Phases 5 & 6), in my opinion, would have been much better served, had there had been real stakes, real consequences… say, having Cassie, The Wasp or Ant-Man dying, not MODOK, nor Kang. Had that happened, this would have been a stronger story.
And here is the biggest problem. Paul Rudd, who stars as Scott Lang / Ant-Man is fantastic in the role! However, in a film that made-fun of the fact that he is not the “star” Avenger, his agency, was often emasculated by either Cassie or Wasp. Even in Ant-man’s final showdown with Kang, he was soundly beaten, only to be saved by Evangeline Lilly’s The Wasp, for the second time. While there is nothing wrong with that, Ant-man, should have been allowed to shine, in his own movie.
So, what’s my recommendation? Well, before I do, please offer your Comments below as I’d like to hear your take. Also, consider becoming a member of the AppFlicks community as either an AppFlicker Critic, JoulePepper Contributor or AuteurX Creator via our Login page. Once you do, at the JoulePepper Contributor level, you can not only rate everything via our Icy OR Spicy JoulePeppers, you can also comment on anything across the Website, vote in JoulePoll Polls and author your very own JouleView Reviews & JouleStream Forums.
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As the third entry in the series, it was better than the second, but not as compelling as the first film. I did like this movie. The humor was more evenly placed. Far better than the disappointing and inappropriate placement of laughs throughout a boring Thor: Love And Thunder (2022) or the overly dark and meddling Dr. Strange And The Multiverse of Madness (2022).
POST CREDIT SCENES
Don’t forget, there is 1 mid-credit scene that sets-up Kang’s future in the multiverse and one end-credit scene after the very last shout-out to the filmmakers, which perhaps, sets-up Loki, Season 2 (2023)???
What’s your opinion, was this the right film to kick-off MCU Phase 5? Did you like this film? Do you think the road to Avengers: Kang Dynasty (2025) will be bumpy like Phase 4 was, or are are you looking forward to more… What’s your take?
I look forward to your JoulePepper rating of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and I would love to read your comments in the JouleView section, below.
JOULE RATING
While I would have liked to see / hear Michael Pena’s fast-forward narration, we grew accustomed to in the Ant-man Trilogy, to start or wrap-up the film… based on the above, I give this film 3 JoulePeppers – it’s Warm!
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