Ant-Man and The Wasp Doesn’t Disappoint – A Spoiler Free Review

So. I’m going to go ahead and answer the first question on the minds of many parents, since that is my largest demographic here. Is Ant-Man and The Wasp okay for kids to watch. My answer is a resounding yes. While there are a few swear words sprinkled throughout the movie, they aren’t the hard-line ones, and I’m pretty sure that they may just be overlooked by your children anyway because of all of the action that is happening on screen while they are being uttered. Good? Good. Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty. 

Ant-Man Timeline

What we do find out right away is why Ant-Man wasn’t present during the epic battles we saw on screen during Avengers: Infinity War. You’ll come to understand why he didn’t come and help Cap and why he seemingly ignored the call of duty in order to save the entire world. Realizing that Ant-Man, played wonderfully by Paul Rudd, is still very much a family man in every way possible. Sure he’s an ex-con, but he loves his daughter Cassie, played by the talented Abby Ryder Fortson, and has even formed a great blended family bond with his ex-wife and her new husband. It’s all very sweet when you think about it, but you know that there’s something missing. 

Did you stay for the end credits in Ant-Man? If so, by now you know that the original costume for The Wasp was worn by Hope’s mother, Janet van Dyne. Her father informs her that her mom may have died on a mission when she was younger because she went to the Quantum Realm which was something that Hank knew was dangerous. 

“Your mother convinced me to let her join me on my missions. They called her the Wasp. She was born to it. And there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t regret having said yes.”―Hank Pym to Hope van Dyne

Of course, all hope is restored when Scott Lang confesses that he may have seen Janet when he himself goes to the Quantum Realm and comes back. Hank is motivated to find his wife, and Hope’s mother, and correct something that has been gnawing at him for 30 years. Could Janet have possibly survived the Quantum Realm 30 years ago? 

The movie starts with us seeing exactly what happened to Scott Lang after that epic battle in Germany, and he has gotten quite talented in random things. He’s still friends with Luis, Dave and Kurt and they are now running a security system, aptly named Ex-Con Security, we have a second story arc with Luis attempting to finally become an official citizen of society. In ways, journeys of redemption are prevalent in the movie, redemption to society, redemption to family, redemption to friends. And for those of you who get an adrenaline surge because of Easter Eggs, whether in visual and spoken form, you’ll be happy. I’m sure that you’ll even have an urge to don a super suit. 

The great thing about the movie is the fact that it feels fast paced, but properly paced at the same time. Lots of things are going on, and you’re taken on a roller coaster ride of hating people, being judgmental of characters, and hoping and praying that Scott doesn’t screw anything up. It’s also another movie highlighting how amazing women are in general. It’s not forced down your throat, and you don’t feel that the female characters were put on display to send some sort of underlying message to all the Marvel bros, you know?

The movie clocks in at 125 minutes, and there aren’t really any spots that you can take a bathroom break and be okay, so make sure you unload your bladder before going into the movie. I laughed a lot. A lot more than I did in the first movie, and that’s saying quite a bit. I wasn’t bowled over with the first Ant-Man and it’s because I went in expecting an iteration of The Avengers – a semi-serious superhero movie with the fate of the world at stake. Instead I got something that was supposed to be humorous and I didn’t know how to feel. Good thing I prepared before screening the movie this weekend, because I was ready for ALL the laughs. All the feels during Scott and Cassie’s scenes, and all the cheering for the wonderfully executed fight scenes. 

The main arc of the movie is the fact that Hope and Hank are attempting to isolate a frequency to get them to the Quantum Realm and they have to do it all while juggling interactions with Scott Lang and friends, a new antagonist by the name of Ghost, the FBI, a black market arms dealer and the ego of one of Hank’s associates. There are some twists that you may see coming, but it will still be a good time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Make sure to stay for both the mid credit and post credit scenes, it is a Marvel movie after all. 

Ant-Man and The Wasp opens everywhere July 6th, but here’s a trailer to tide you over.