Director Peyton Reed’s style and sensibility really matches up well with the third “Ant-Man” movie series, a franchise that’s been a lot about an underdog hero. In a world where he’s even second to Spider-Man, a fellow under dog superhero, it’s interesting to see how “Quantumania” depicts the idea of family and how dads can be all the heroes we need when all is said and done. Deep down, “Quantumania” is a movie about family, about the unconventional family unit and how it works in a world that they’re woefully unprepared for.
Super-Hero partners Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne and Hank Pym, and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible.
The dynamic between Douglas, Pfeiffer, Lily, and Rudd is still as great as ever with the foursome representing the legacy and future of the Marvel universe. I’m especially happy that they’ve somewhat loosened their grip of Hank Pym, and allowed him to become a quasi-Ant-Man for the film series. While it’s been gradual, Michael Douglas fits well in to the skin of Pym, working as a great mentor alongside Michelle Pfeiffer who seems to be having a blast in the role of the OG Wasp. Kathryn Newton is also very good in the role of Scott’s daughter, a teen girl who is ambitious to a fault and seems to be skyrocketing as a superhero that Scott still aspires toward.
Much of “Quantumania” is a fun and exciting ode to films like “Fantastic Voyage” where we’re given a glimpse in to the world within our world. Peyton Reed doesn’t waste too much time, for exploring the dynamic of these characters after the last film, and how they have to come together once they’re all hopelessly lost in the Quantum Realm. There aren’t a ton of Easter Eggs to the Marvel Universe, but “Quantumania” does spend a lot of time setting up the future films, and our current big bad: Kang the Conqueror. Sadly, that works to a fault, as Reed spends almost too much time setting up future storylines.
Rather than emphasizing the stakes of our current predicament, there’s far too much propping up of future films and the future “The Avengers” film. As well, there’s a ton of call backs to Marvel web series which, if like me, you haven’t seen, won’t mean very much when all is said and done. There just aren’t enough stakes punctuated to make Kang feel like a legitimate threat to our world quiet yet. And that’s a shame, considering Jonathan Majors is very good in the role of Kang. There’s so much imagination and creative twists behind “Quatumania” nevertheless. I loved a lot of the monsters and their introductions in to this narrative, as well as the way we leave the film on ellipses.
I quite enjoyed the absolutely phantasmagorical action of “Quantumania,” but like “Iron Man 2,” it would work so much better if it didn’t feel like a simple buffer before we get to the more urgent affairs with the Avengers.