You literally have to go out of your way to not know something of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s a billion dollar juggernaut that started Hollywood’s obsession with superhero movies in the last decade, and has crafted its own unique series where all their characters and stories intertwine within the same world. As a result, outcomes of one story can have ramifications for another film, and character development may be furthered a one movie that doesn’t even focus around that particular hero.
Confused yet? No. Of course you aren’t, because you, like everyone, else has pretty much seen all 11 offerings so far – from Iron Man to Hulk to The Avengers and even two TV spinoffs. Crowds keep coming back because Marvel knows how to make a great blockbuster. The studio nails comedy and action with some drama with a nod to their predecessors (or often future projects) and the characters are likeable and satisfying.
Out now is ‘Installment 12’, and the hero you is someone may have not heard of, let alone seen: Ant Man.
Some backstory: Ant Man was, for many years, slated to be a breakout film for acclaimed director Edgar Wright. With a track record including Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Wright’s unique editing and directing style meant he had a recognisable DNA in an industry slowly moulding into one gloopy, formulaic and lifeless structure. Unfortunately, almost out of nowhere, Wright had to leave the project due to ‘creative differences’, (code for ‘executives at Marvel took the reigns’) and wouldn’t let go. So, what we have is a ‘second-chance draw’ director in Peyton Reed (he did Bring It On – cool!) to come in at the death and save this film.
Did he succeed? Well, kinda. It’s like winning the supplementary prize in the lotto where you’re pleased to get $18.00 and almost make your money back. What Ant Man has become is a messy mixture of different script re-writes and tropes from other Marvel movies already seen before.
It’s an entertaining film – as all Marvel hero movies are. We follow Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) who is a crook trying to get clean, but soon under the mentorship of Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) he must embrace his inner thief and pull off a heist inside Pym Technologies to stop ruthless evil CEO Darren Cross (Corey Stoll – House of Cards) from using a formula he doesn’t understand for nefarious reasons. Oh, and he can shrink in his suit to the size of an ant, so… yeah….
Save for the amazing macro-film techniques, Ant Man barely scraps through with a ‘pass’ on the Marvel scale of quality.. I just can’t help but think how much better this could have been with Edgar Wright still at the helm. For shame.
6/10.
