The Marvel Cinematic Universe juggernaut is continuing its steamroller through the box office with a new addition to its fold, and this time it is not an Avenger.
‘Ant-Man’, one of the most unlikely heroes to warrant a big screen outing, has been a long time coming – having spent somewhere between eight-years-and-forever in development hell. Initially the passion project of Edgar Wright (Director of ‘Scott Pilgrim’, ‘Shaun Of The Dead’, ‘Hot Fuzz’, ‘World’s End’) walked out of the project due to disagreements with Marvel about it, seemingly dooming it. But, as we have found with many superhero franchise, they never stay dead for long and eventually see a reboot.
This time the reboot happened during the pre-production stage, with Peyton Reed (‘Yes Man’, ‘Bring It On’) somehow finding his way from directing rom-coms to a big budget superhero movie. Working with the original story, Wright co-wrote with Joe Cornish, featuring some punching up from Adam McKay and star Paul Rudd. With all of these additions that have been made since Edgar walked, it can’t be helped but feel that his original vision has been muddied to create a bro-comedy that fits snuggly into the Marvel Universe.Michael Douglas plays Dr Hank Pym, a scientist and creator of the 'Pym Particle'. Pym discovered long ago that his creation is unstable and has spent many years making sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, Pym’s successor, Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) has been digging and found information about technology which can make people decrease in size and increase in strength simultaneously; seeing military potential. Pym, realising the danger that could come out of this, makes the acquaintance of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a cat-burglar who has just been released from prison on espionage charges and is trying to do right by his daughter – this father-daughter relationship also being explored with Pym and his own daughter (Evangeline Lilly). Lang is handed down the Ant-Man suit and trained to control his size and control ants in order to break into the lab and steal the technology back.
The visuals in this film are very remarkable, especially in fight sequences that utilise the constantly changing sizes of characters to great and sometimes hilarious effect. Highlights include battles atop a toy train and against an Avenger making a cameo. But, I can’t help feeling there was a great heist movie underneath the kinds of clichés that are in bro-comedies such as ‘The Interview’ – although audiences have been spared from the dick jokes that often appear in them. There is no room for character development, with every moment that could lead to an emotional breakthrough being cut short by a joke – often by Paul Rudd who seems to be acting double duties as both leading man and comic relief. Another charge that can be thrown against ‘Ant-Man’ is that the female characters are less developed than the ants. Black Widow is the only well-written female character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far.
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It was quite obvious what belonged to Edgar Wright and what’s new, with some fun Edgar touches that can be found in his films still remaining in the dialogue. From Lang’s daughter being called Peanut (because peanuts are small like ants) to a particular tune being whistled.
All in all, ‘Ant-Man’ is a fun enough action film like the others that make up the Marvel Universe, but meddling has hidden away what could have been a film that reminded us why everyone loved ‘Iron Man’ so much.
Three out of five ant mounds.
'Ant-Man' is in cinemas 16 July.
