Marvel returns to theaters with “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors and more. “Quantumania” serves as the first film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Phase Five and third installment of the Ant-Man series. The film was directed by Peyton Reed with a screenplay written by Jeff Loveness.
Since his debut in 2015’s “Ant-Man,” MCU fans have witnessed Scott Lang, played by Rudd, go from being a low-level crook to a hero who helped save the universe from destruction in “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019. “Quantumania” follows Scott on an adventure inside the Quantum Realm with his family after a lab accident, discovering what lives in the Quantum Realm and facing a major threat to the entire universe.
By no means is “Quantumania” a terrible film, it just has a few overwhelming flaws, such as its overuse of computer-generated effects. Some sequences look like video game cutscenes, and I couldn’t focus on the story without being distracted by all the digitized scenery. Marvel isn’t going to last another decade if they continue to favor computer-generated effects over good storytelling.
Another flaw is the film’s comedy aspect. The “Ant-Man” franchise has become known for its great sense of humor, but this time around, jokes were overused so much they became corny. “Quantumania” also doesn’t seem like a continuation of Ant-Man’s storyline; instead, it’s a set-up for the next big team up for the Avengers. Similar to “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” “Quantumania” doesn’t enable its main character to grow. Scott leaves the film learning nothing from his death-defying adventure except for the plans of the MCU’s next overarching villain, Kang the Conqueror.
On a good note, the film is still entertaining, and I haven’t had fun with a Marvel flick in a while. “Quantumania” felt like an old-school “Star Wars” film brimming with science fiction wonder. I was amazed by all the creatures and world building that was achieved, and the film’s action sequences made it even more dazzling to behold.
Rudd returns with his great take on Scott, and the supporting characters were also a big highlight of the film, including newcomer Newton as Scott’s daughter, Cassandra. Majors gave an extremely bone-chilling performance as Kang the Conqueror, shaping Kang into a force capable of making a large impact on the MCU.
At best a movie should make you feel a sense of adventure, and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” manages to tap into cinema’s adventurous spirit. From start to finish, I was kept entertained by Ant-Man’s exploration through unfamiliar territories. “Quantumania” isn’t perfect, nor is it horrible. Its reliance on computer-generated effects is a major flaw, a problem present in many of the MCU’s recent projects, but the film is still a flawed step in the right direction.