This sequel takes place before Avengers: Infinity War, but after Captain America: Civil War. Paul Rudd plays Scott Lang / Ant-Man, who has been under house arrest for two years following the Civil War storyline (which was mentioned in Infinity War). As the movie begins, he is three days out from ending his two years imprisoned in his own home. He has made elaborate games to play with his daughter, Cassie (played by Abby Ryder Fortson) to make up for being housebound with an ankle monitor. They seem to have a close relationship, and this is supported by her mother and policeman fiance.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Marvel Studios ANT-MAN AND THE WASP..L to R: The Wasp/Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) ..Photo: Ben Rothstein..©Marvel Studios 2018

First up, we play catch up of what happened to Janet (Hope’s mother/Hank Pym’s wife, played my Michelle Pfeiffer) when she disappeared into quantum space 30 years before, and some footage from the first movie is shown. It’s recommended to re-watch the first movie before seeing this one, as they flow well into each other.

Scott has a vivid dream of Janet, which gets him kidnapped by Hope, played by Evangeline Lilly, and Hank Pym, played with grouchy finesse by Michael Douglas. It is then the start of a new adventure in quantum, micro and macro space. The end of the last movie saw the introduction of the Wasp. In this movie, we really get a good chance to see her shine. She comes in with wings, which Scott has a hard time accepting. At least until his suit is also updated with a nifty built-in helmet. Wasp shows she has a mean sting, with her martial arts prowess coming to the fore. Ant-Man has no problem in taking a back seat when she does so, as he knows she is far more adept at that sort of encounter.

This movie answers the bugging question of what were to happen if you shrunk a car in this universe. Granted the actual physics don’t work out, but it makes for entertaining viewing. Even Stan Lee got in on the act for his cameo.

The antagonist of the movie is portrayed to be Ghost (played by Hannah John-Kamen), and her story is complex. She is given an extensive backstory in the movie. She can phase through walls due to quantum shifting. This character is very different from the original Ghost portrayed by Marvel as a villain in an Iron Man comic in 1987. Firstly, she is female. Secondly her backstory is so different as to make her a completely different character to the one portrayed in the comics. If you are a comic fan, make sure to keep that in mind. Also a heads up that the name Goliath is mentioned.

The scenery is fantastic, especially when you get to the quantum level. The fight scenes, especially the ones with the Wasp, when sizing is changed in the blink of an eye. She can run along a knife blade thrown at her, then jump full size to punch the bad guy.

It’s nice to watch a Marvel movie that doesn’t have the survival of the planet (this one or any others) hanging in the balance. However it does tie in very well with the other Marvel movies released both this year and next year. Both Ant Man and the Wasp will be appearing in the as yet untitled Avengers movie due out May 3, 2019.

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SCIFI Radio Staff

SCIFI Radio Staff

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