Ant-Man: Movie Review

   When Marvel Studios announced it was doing an Ant-Man movie, I thought they were crazy.

   (To be fair, I had the same reaction when I heard about the Guardians of the Galaxy movie.)

   In both instances, I was wrong (much as I hate to admit it).

   Where Marvel succeeds with movies about (let's face it) second-class heroes is because they focus on their strengths - interesting stories, great characters, lots of action, humor and heart.

   The story centers around Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), an ex-con who's trying to turn his life around, to be a good father to his young daughter - but he can't seem to get a break.

   At least not until he meets Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), a scientist who mastered the size-changing Pym Particle - and has spent decades trying to keep it out of the wrong hands.

   To safeguard his invention, he needs to steal it from a corporation before it can fall into the wrong hands - and to manage that, Pym needs a thief.

   There's a mystery and a tragedy hanging over Pym - why did he give up his career as Ant-Man, and what happened to his wife, Janet Pym? And how does his daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) figure into the intrigue?

   The visuals in the film are stunning, and the size-changing is realized brilliantly. The logic behind Ant-Man's powers and his offensive abilities, as well as his use of swarms of ants are all managed cleverly.

   The actors are perfectly cast (something else Marvel has excelled at) - Rudd is terrific, funny and personable in the title role, and Douglas brings the proper gravitas to a classic character.

   As a long-time fan, I was hoping this story would be about Hank Pym - the "real" Ant-Man, in my book - but I have to admit the story works well with Pym being a hero from an earlier generation.

   The movie's only stumbles are easily forgiven, but as an origin story, we occasionally get slowed down in explaining how things work - and some might find Lang's three "street level" friends a little over the top, but I thought they were very funny, especially Michael Pena as Luis. I also love the music featured in the film.

   There are lots of nice touches throughout the film - bits of business for long-time fans, like a cameo by the first guy to play Ant-Man onscreen (in Saturday Night Live), and a few references to certain other Marvel heroes.

   I can't say it's the best of the Marvel movies (that's a tall mountain to climb), but it's very, very good - like Guardians, it aims more for laughs than angst, and it's all the better for it. (And the best recommendation of all - my lovely wife, who's not a fan of superhero movies, loved it!)

   It's loaded with energy and laughs, and easily sets up a series of adventures - so don't be surprised when Ant-Man II rolls around in a few years!

Grade: A

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