Ant-man and the Wasp (2018)

Ant-man and the Wasp is a sequel very much in the tradition of give-them-more-of-the-same. I enjoyed the first film, Ant-man, very much and this film is very much like it. It's one of those if-you-liked-the-first-one... sorts of films. And yes I very much enjoyed it. It has just the right balance of humour, adventure, cool effects, and charming characters. All of this together makes Ant-man and the Wasp very enjoyable if not really very original.

Rudd is his same handsome and funny self. Lilly's character evolves a bit; she isn't quite as grumpy as the last film. Douglas is also a little less curmudgeonly than last time. But for consistency Michael Pena remains as adorably silly as the first film. Yup it's all pretty much the same... Oh, but we get Michelle Pfeiffer. Which is cool.

I'm not sure I have much more to say. To be honest, the story is rather forgettable as it feels sort of pulled together just to give us more of the characters we like from the first film. The Ghost storyline is a little basic and feels like it's just McGuffin to get us some cool shrinking and growing effects. None of what happens in Ant-man and the Wasp couldn't have been done in a shorter story so much of the film feels like it's being stretched out. But not in a tedious way. It's all charming and fun. But it really doesn't have much meat to the story. The plot and characterization are thin and by the final post-credit scene I'm just not sure giant ants are that funny any longer.

And speaking of post-credit scenes (spoiler free), I have the same problem with the ending here as I have with the ending to Infinity War.

Having said that, this series remains my favourite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe just for sheer entertainment value. Light and breezy sure, but damn fun anyway.

Ant-man and the Wasp
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hannah John-Kamen, Laurence Fishburne, Judy Greer, Bobby Canavale, Randal Park, Walton Goggins, Tip Harris, David Dastmalchian
Director: Payton Reed
Writers: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari