Friday, July 10, 2015

Ant Man Review

Friday, July 10, 2015

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, T.I.

Rating: 12A

Running Time: 1 hour 57 minutes.

Before we start, you should probably know that Ant-Man is suppose to suck...

This is all that we have heard over the internet over the last year or so, it was plagued with production delays, key cast and crew leaving plus...well, the fact this is a super hero where his power is a shrinking ability. It does not leave you with much hope.

Ant-Man tells the story of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd). Fresh out of prison, Lang tries to goes back in the normal life for the sake of his daughter, but ends up doing one last score with his ex prison buddy Luis and his crew. The score is a set up by Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his estranged daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) to get Scott to save the world. 

It does sound pretty pants on paper, but the film goes above and beyond to take it into Marvel standard level. The key thing that the film has going for it is the fact it is funny, not just 'Tony Stark poking fun at Cap' funny, a great 'rip roar through the cinema' gags. But we know what you're thinking "We're seeing a Marvel film for the kick-ass action!" there is plenty of that too! In fact, one of our personal favourite scenes was the penultimate fight sequence, beginning in a suitcase and ending up with a very big Thomas The Tank Engine toy breaking through a roof.

The only problem with Ant-Man is its villain. While Corey Stoll is a great actor, seen in films like C.O.G. and programmes like The Strain, it comes off a little text book, and looking at other Marvel villains we have seen, falls flat in comparison. It is also a shame we do not see much of Dr Pym's backstory, as people who have read the comic books would know, has much more to work with then a quick flashback. 

But the main focus, of course, is Scott, and by god, is Paul Rudd the perfect leading man from beginning to end. Skeptics will immediately become believers, and as the end credits roll you will be aching for Scott Lang in your life forever. His supporting crooks turned heroes also make the film what it is, Michael Peña and rapper T.I. taking the  MVP award in the supporting actor categories. There are also some brilliant cameos that have probably been spoiled by the internet already, but you still need to check them out. 

Despite its flat villain, Ant-Man has produced one of the most oddly brilliant films we have seen in a while. Full of humour, action and pace, Ant-Man draws a marvellous (getit?) conclusion to phase two of the Marvel verse, and will no doubt be the biggest super hero of the summer.

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