Ant-Man buzzed into theaters this past weekend as Marvel’s latest foray into owning the movie industry. I have to admit that I was a initially skeptical of Ant-Man especially after hearing the news that Director Edgar Wright had left the project. The skepticism wasn’t so much towards the movie, but rather its star. Paul Rudd has always been able to hit my funny bone and has been in several of my favorite comedies over the years, but I never saw him in the hero type role. Fortunately for me and the rest of the movie goers, my skepticism was for not as Marvel chose right and Rudd delivers.
Marvel’s introduction of Ant-Man used a similar recipe that introduced us to both Iron Man and Guardians of the Galaxy. Ant-Man is chock full of humor that helps balance out the action while still showing a bit of heart with a few tender moments. Marvel just doesn’t use one Ant-Man though, they give us the original too. Michael Douglas steps into the role of Hank Pym (the first Ant-Man) and does not disappoint. His role gives us a look into the past while also being the starting point for the story that the film tells. He gives us a glimpse into S.H.I.E.L.D. before it becomes the S.H.I.E.L.D. we know and also gives us a glimpse of Howard Stark and Peggy Carter. We learn two things from Hank Pym from the start: He is a man of principle that won’t back down from what he believes and to never mention his wife.
Paul Rudd’s portrayal of Scott Lang (the second Ant-Man) is introduced in a much different light. The first we see of him is in prison in what appears to be a prison fight, or rather a getting out of prison ritual. We learn that his stint in prison cost him his wife and daughter and while desperate to make things right, Lang finds that an ex-con trying to find a job is nearly impossible. The desire to spend more time with his daughter has Lang quickly going back on his promise to stay clean and out of trouble once he got out of prison. The pressure applied by his ex-con friends has him changing his mind and also reveals to the viewer why he was in prison to begin with. Unbeknownst to Scott, there is more to the heist than meets the eye and that a certain Hank Pym has an eye on him.
While this is going on we also get a look at Hank Pym’s former protege and his daughter. Darren Cross is the brilliant man that got Pym voted out of his own company. Along with his brilliance comes a touch of madness. Desperate to find out the secrets that Pym kept from him, Cross does everything in his power to achieve everything that Pym did, including the ability to create a suit similar to the Ant-Man. Hope Pym works for Cross and appears at odds with her father. Played by the ever lovely and talented Evangeline Lilly, Hope Pym is her father’s insider and helps him to prevent Cross from achieving his ultimate goal.
Ant-Man succeeds in what it sets out to do: A great introduction of a new character into an already established universe that helps give insight into the past while setting up the future. Scott Lang is a man looking for redemption and trying to be a hero to his daughter. Hank Pym is a man of principle, trying to protect the world and reconnect with his daughter. Ant-Man is a fun movie that will have you laughing throughout and looking forward to more. And if that isn’t enough to get you to go see it, then perhaps the tip that Ant-Man and one of the Avengers throw down in the movie, will. Marvel hits another one out of the park and I am definitely recommending that you see this film.