ANT-MAN

SYNOPSIS: After being armed by his mentor Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) with a super-suit and the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner hero and help Pym protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

Review by Louise Keller
Refreshingly simple and loads of fun, Ant-Man maximizes on its point of difference of its smallest super-hero by coating it with lots of laughter and a likeable vibe. The heist set up is easy to follow and the scallywag protagonist (played by Paul Rudd) who dons the Ant-Man suit is an amiable character who has been travelling on the wrong road, but is determined to become the person his young daughter believes he is. The scale is smaller than some of the other Marvel tales but we never feel as though there is anything lacking – the film bristles with goofiness and joie de vivre, its charismatic cast looking as though it is having a ripping good time.

After a brief opening sequence set in 1989 in which we meet a digitally air-brushed Michael Douglas as the brilliant scientist whose ground-breaking research on particles with its shrinking-suit technology forms the foundation of the plot. Douglas looks more like himself later on and he is a strong presence. Evangeline Lilly as his daughter Hope (in a beguiling, mysterious pageboy hairstyle) is delightful.

There are many lovely little touches, like Michael Pena whistling ‘It’s a Small World’ when he is waiting for Ant-Man (and the army of accompanying ants) to infiltrate the premises and I love the idea of Ant-Man’s adversary Yellowjacket being zapped in the bug zapper. The perspective is constantly changing and the sequences in which Ant-Man battles the gigantic elements surrounding him are beautifully realized. Water cascading from the bath tap becomes a tsunami, platform shoes on a disco floor are a deadly hazard, as is the carpet pile, the vacuum cleaner, the record turntable and the curious mouse, to name but a few.

Pena is a real scene stealer – the sequences in which his Luis recounts his extended anecdotal explanations is a delight. The combo of all the elements works a treat and without doubt, we can be assured of more ant-ventures to come.