Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was always going to have a tough go of it. It was the series that Marvel chose to kick off Phase 5 of the MCU, while simultaneously introducing the series’ next ‘big-bad’ — bringing a scope far too massive to a series whose primary focus has always been on small stories (and people).
That isn’t to say that there aren’t things that didn’t work. The scope of the Quantum Realm and all the quirky, eccentric characters that it brings with it was something we were interested in seeing more of. And when Kang the Conqueror (Johnathan Majors) is on-screen, discussing the fate of the universe beyond our own, you can’t help but keep your eyes glued to the screen. It’s a short list, but one we clung to throughout the two-hour runtime. Whenever Majors took his leave, our eyes found themselves staring at the back of our head for far longer than we’d like.
The least interesting episode of Rick and Morty ever
At its core, Quantumania is simple. It’s a tale of family, and later, revenge and redemption. The Ant-Family consists of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lily), Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). Much to our surprise, the Ant-Family tended to walk a thin line between being supporting characters and leaning into being main characters – something we welcomed once it became clear where the film was headed. Anything to get more Michael Douglas on the screen.
And where the film is headed is the Quantum Realm. It’s where the story needs to be. The writers waste no time in getting our heroes there succinctly, while simultaneously giving viewers a brief glimpse of the threat that is Kang in the early stages. Enjoy it while it lasts, as Kang only makes his return in the second act.
Fortunately, for the movie’s sake (and our own) the realm Quantumania introduces is wacky enough to hold your attention for longer than five minutes. Unfortunately, the movie only gives the audience five minutes to unpack the Quantum Realm and its uniquely odd aliens and universe before unceremoniously shooing them into the mystery of who ‘He’ (who must not be named) is. Spoiler alert: it’s exactly who you think it is.
And that’s this movie’s biggest problem – pacing. The story makes the bold decision to follow two groups, rather than just letting the entire Ant-Family navigate the Quantum Realm together. We get it. The movie needs Scott away from his Ant-Family to build suspense and throw the same fish-out-of-water jokes at us that weren’t funny in the first Thor. The continual to-ing and fro-ing between the movie’s two narratives causes disruption to the overall flow of the movie that cannot be overlooked. Both stories are interesting on their own but viewers are never given enough time to sit and absorb them. It’s always onto the next thing.
A villainous second and third act
It’s unfortunate that Marvel opts to spend the entire first act of Quantumania alluding to this God-like character that’s the talk of the Quantum town, rather than just showing us. When he does eventually turn up, it’s every bit as glorious as you’d hope.
Those moments of glory don’t last forever, though. Soon after we’re right back to the monotonous switching between our lead characters’ stories that bogged down the first act. We won’t delve too deeply into the third act either. It’s an amalgamation of the film’s multiple storylines colliding into one massive and entirely unearned payoff. For the most part, things end on a happier note, with just a sprinkle of doubt and uncertainty thrown into the mix. Kang’s character “arc” in the third act fails to live up to the hype that Marvel has been bandying about for the past two or three years. Still, it’s Jonathan Majors. He could make watching paint dry exciting – as is showcased by his performance in most of the film.
Finally, we come to the thing that most MCU-goers wet themselves in anticipation for; the post-credits scene. In this case, there are two that you must force yourself through the credits to see. Both tease an exciting future for Kang, with the best being saved for when the cinema turns on the lights and wants you gone.
Saving the movie
In a movie packed with poor writing, multiple converging storylines, and some of the worst CGI we’ve ever seen (no hyperbole intended), the performances are what shine through. There’s only so much even a stacked ensemble can do in the face of a bad director and worse writers. The actors pull off some great scenes that distract you from the movie itself.
It’ll come as no surprise to anyone that knows Major’s career that he’d pull off the best performance of the lot. His version of Kang the Conqueror is the one shining light in the dark and cloudy landscape that is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. He’s convincing, terrifying, and menacing all at once, pulling off a performance that’ll quell any MCU-goers’ doubts about the future of the franchise.
Everyone else, barring Pfeiffer’s performance, is doing what the script calls for and nothing more. Rudd has been at the Ant-Man helm for so long that it’s no longer a character. He is Scott Lang. And Scott Lang is him. He’s still great, but we’ve come to expect that after all of his other Marvelous performances.
Despite being titled Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the film often shuns the film’s second-most titular character, leaving Lilley with barely any script to work with. Why? To make room for Scott Lang’s daughter, Cassie Lang, played by Kathryn Newton. Despite seeing such a large chunk of screen time — compared to Scott and Kang that is — Newton rarely ever changes expression throughout the film, forcing the actors around her to do most of the heavy lifting. If it weren’t for the supporting cast, her performance would stand out like a sore thumb.
And finally, we come to Janet van Dyne and Hank Pym, played by the brilliant Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Douglas. Neither actor phoned in any scene, constantly giving everyone around them that isn’t Kang something to work with and improve upon.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is up against a whole host of previous awesome from Marvel’s first four Phases. At this point, the interconnected movies are no longer running on adrenaline. Instead, they’re slogging uphill while carrying audience expectations and an increasingly weighty set of lore and backstory on their backs. Die-hard Marvel fans probably won’t be disappointed in Quantumania but it’s no Ant-Man or Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hits theatres today, 17 February 2023.
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Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is up against a whole host of previous awesome from Marvel's first four Phases. At this point, the interconnected movies are no longer running on adrenaline. Instead, they're slogging uphill while carrying audience expectations and an increasingly weighty set of lore and backstory on their backs.