Ant-Man and the Wasp [SteelBook] [Digital Copy] [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [Only @ Best Buy] [2018]

The latest film in the Marvel juggernaut of blockbuster motion picture entertainment, “Ant-Man and the Wasp” wisely allows super-heroics to take a backseat to comedy, and gives the audience a chance to catch its breath after the almost overwhelming non-stop intensity of “Black Panther,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and even the adult-oriented “Deadpool 2,” all released earlier this year. Marvel-based pictures are sometimes suspected of being in danger of overkill—of inundating the movie-going audience with an overabundance of new products competing for the viewer’s entertainment dollar. This possibility was recently driven home by the lackluster performance of this year’s “Star Wars Anthology” picture “Solo.” Only the tenth picture in the “Star Wars” series since 1977, “Solo” is the first film in the franchise’s history to fail to earn back its budget costs even after five weeks in wide release. By comparison, “Ant-Man and the Wasp” is the twentieth picture in what is known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the fifty-third movie since 1989 based on a Marvel-based comic book. A sequel to both 2015’s “Ant-Man” and 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp” reunites most of the cast of the 2015 picture. Former petty thief and ex-convict Scott Lang escapes from house-arrest to team again with physicist Hank Pym and his brilliant daughter Hope van Dyne and assume his identity as the miniscule superhero Ant-Man in an effort to rescue Hope’s mother from her imprisonment in the molecular quantum realm. The trick to enjoying a movie like “Ant-Man and the Wasp”—or any picture in the Marvel Entertainment Universe, really—is to not allow yourself to be too impressed with the science: It’s all theoretical, which essentially means that nobody understands it any better than you do. This is the kind of stuff the guys talk about on television’s “The Big Bang Theory.” And the filmmakers use it in the Marvel pictures as a sort of distraction, to get you thinking about something else while they’re cooking up a big surprise for you in the next scene. In the case of “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” the result is nearly a satire, a comedy which seeks to make some fun of the gravity and ponderous self-importance of the other movies in the Marvel series. Ignore the science and the technical terms, and even the story: This is what a Marx Brothers comedy would’ve looked like if somebody had given Groucho and the boys a $200 million budget and the services of the most talented special effects craftsmen in the world. As in the earlier “Ant-Man” picture, the comic actor Paul Rudd is a lot of fun as the hapless Scott Lang, doing as well as he can to be a good role model for his adorable daughter while still housebound with an electronic monitor locked to his ankle by government authorities, a result of the events depicted in “Captain America: Civil War.” The Canadian-born actress Evangeline Lilly is simultaneously effective and impressive as Hope van Dyne, Scott’s estranged love interest and occasional rescuer. Lilly, who also appeared as the elfin Tauriel in Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” trilogy, possibly used her experiences in those pictures as a warmup for her size-shifting acrobatics here. Likewise, old pros Laurence Fishburne and Michael Douglas are more fun than they’ve ever been, playing old friends and professional rivals, a sort of Hope and Crosby for the new millennium described by director Peyton Reed as having been partially modeled on competing computer geniuses Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. At one point in the narrative, through the miracle of computer-generated imagery Douglas plays a scene as he appeared at around the time of 1972’s “Napoleon and Samantha,” a Disney picture from the very beginning of his career as an actor. The results are astonishing…and even a little scary. Also appearing in the cast are Hannah John-Kamen as an unstable victim of quantum science, a wonderfully clueless Randall Park as Scott’s parole officer, and Abby Ryder Fortson as Scott’s patient, understanding, and tolerant young daughter. Marvel Comics pioneer Stan Lee contributes his customary cameo. And Michelle Pfeiffer appears in a few scenes during the picture’s final quarter as Douglas’ wife and Lilly’s mother, imprisoned in a sort of cosmic Phantom Zone. But the picture is almost stolen away from the others by the wonderfully talented Michael Pena as Luis, Scott’s partner and former cellmate. Pena is a genuine delight, almost unbearably funny especially during a scene when the bad guys inject his character with “truth serum” to extract some information…and then can’t shut him up. The product of no less than five writers, including Chris McKenna of television’s “Community” and “The Mindy Project” and star Paul Rudd, “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” although certainly not a classic, is non-stop fun, filled with dazzling special effects, dizzying stuntwork, and daring car chases. It’s actually more in the tradition of Disney’s live-action films of the 1960s than the current palette of existential Marvel ruminations…although mid-credit scene at the picture’s end brings the characters up-to-date with the events depicted in “Avengers: Infinity War,” and sets up the inevitable sequel. As is the case with most collaborations between Disney and Marvel so far, “Ant-Man and the Wasp” is expected to earn enormous amounts of money at the box office—some sources place the expected global total as high as $155 million over the opening weekend alone. Critical response has also been high, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting an 86% approval rating and Metacritic reporting a similar 70%. Exit audiences polled by CinemaScore assign the picture a final grade of A-minus, slightly less than the A grade earned by “Ant-Man” in 2015. “Ant-Man and the Wasp” is rated PG-13 for its comic book violence, and some rude humor which kids might need to explain to their bewildered parents.

Peyton Reed’s ANT-MAN AND THE WASP is an improvement on the previous outing in most ways, though not all. Featuring a great ensemble cast and top-notch effects while adding to both the Ant-Man mythos and the overall Marvel Universe, this is a nice little palate cleanser after the epic and heavy AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR. Though it got to theaters after the latest Avengers installment, this film actually takes place before the universe shattering events that transpired there. Following up on story threads from both ANT-MAN and CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, we follow Paul Rudd’s lovable loser Scott Lang as he deals with a SHIELD enforced house arrest, his fairly normal family life, and his budding security firm business when he finds himself drawn back into super-heroics by Evangeline Lilly’s Hope (aka the Wasp) and Michael Douglas’ cranky Hank Pym. Throw in Walton Goggins as an ambitious black market tech dealer, Laurence Fishburne as Pym’s estranged colleague Bill Foster, Hannah John-Kamen as the tortured but driven super-powered Ghost, and Michelle friggin’ Pfeiffer as the lost Janet Van Dyne and you’ve got a fantastic cast. Plus, Michael Pena is around for some more inspired comedic storytelling. Unfortunately, Judy Greer and Bobby Cannavale lose out on screen time this go round to make room for all the new faces. They do what they can with their limited appearances but it’s too bad they couldn’t get more to do. The action sequences are fun and make great use of the shrinking and growing effects. Additionally, the Wasp and Ghost are both massively entertaining additions to the story. While this entry feels concisely self-contained, it still feels intrinsically part of the overall shared universe. It is a demonstration of what Marvel has been able to achieve with their interconnectivity. Reed is able to meld sci fi spectacle with organic comedy to produce a rollicking adventure tale. Though not the best Marvel film, ANT-MAN AND THE WASP is still a nice addition to the oeuvre. Peyton Reed had to take over for Edgar Wright in preproduction on the previous film and it showed, as it was slightly muddled and by the numbers. This time out, given full creative control, Reed makes the most of it. Expanding the Ant-Man world and furthering storylines naturally, this is a fun little flick. Additionally, the steelbook artwork is very cool and happens to be one of my favorite recent Best Buy exclusives.

Movie review: After the emotional carnage of INFINITY WAR, the MCU needed to allow us fans to catch our breath and decompress, and ANT MAN AND THE WASP allows us to do just that in a movie that is essentially a partial sequel to CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. It takes part in that corner of the MCU occupied by Scott Laing, whom we last saw fighting alongside Cap at the Berlin Airport in what might still be my favorite scene in any Marvel movie to date. Missing from that throw down was any mention of Hank Pym and Hope Van Dyne, the father and daughter duo who came up with the technology that allowed Scott to become Ant Man in the first place. In the opening act A & W, which has a lot of set up and catching up, we learn just what everyone has been up to and why Scott was MIA in INFINITY WAR. The plot of ANT MAN AND THE WASP turns on a dangling plot thread from the first Ant Man film, mainly the possibility that Hank’s wife and Hope’s mother, Janet, is still alive in the Quantum Realm (a microverse below the subatomic level), having been presumed lost there many years earlier during a mission with her husband. The three main protagonists, who have become estranged after the events of CIVIL WAR, are now forced by events to reunite on a mission to rescue Janet, but they are soon being pursued by two different sets of villains with two very different agendas with the common goal of obtaining Pym’s technology for their own use. Then there is the FBI, which has had Scott under house arrest, making any involvement by him in any of Pym’s plans very problematic. This sets up a very straight forward narrative, where the heroes have to break into and break out of various tight spots, getting captured at least once along the way, not to mention a number of chase sequences and fight scenes where the CGI gets to shine. This leads to a finale where everything is on the line and multiple characters are in serious peril, both in this world and the Quantum Realm; pretty much your typical Marvel movie.

Much of the Marvel output, though still quite good, seems to have come more to rely on special effects and computer imagery, and less on a quality storyline. Ant-Man and the Wasp is a motion picture that combines action, humor, believable thus relatable characters. Paul Rudd reprises his role as Scott Lang, who is the present-day Ant-Man in the Marvel Universe. Michael Douglas returns as Dr. Hank Pym, the scientific mastermind who made the Ant-Man character come to life (actually, it was Stan Lee). Evangeline comes on the screen as the other half of the movie, namely The Wasp. The chemistry among the players is quite good, and the whole film is an excellent tie-in with the rest of the Marvel Movies that are tied in with The Infinity Stones-related plots and subplots. Last, and not least, Michelle Pfeiffer makes her entry into the set of Marvel motion pictures, some twenty-six years after her portrayal of the DC character Catwoman. Also, Walton Goggins, of "Justified" fame, carries out his role as the despicable, intruding villain Sonny Burch, who is like the perpetual fly in one's ointment. All in all, a great cast for a great movie is part of what defines Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Whatever your view of the movie itself (I rather liked it)... You have to admit this steelbook presentation is top notch! I like the clean graphics on the outside, but the bonus are the beautifully rendered heroes on the inside. On to the movie- The first Ant-Man movie was really fun, but it had the standard marvel villain problem. The protagonist has a similar power set/armor and the story culminates in a showdown spectacle at the end where... *spoilers*... the villain dies and we get the happy ending. The antagonists (I hesitate to call them villains) have varied reasons for what they do, and the characters are fleshed out really well. Their past relationships impact decisions being made as the story unfolds and the movie still manages to sprinkle in a fair bit of humor, like the first. Plus, the Wasp finally gets to wreck shop like a boss! I do have a logic problem where they discarded the rules regarding shrinking established in the first movie. Apparently, you don't have to wear a helmet to breathe when you're operating at the smaller size any more. But once you just go with it, the movie is a really fun ride... Thumbs up!

I was not a big fan of the first Ant-Man film, mostly because it felt like there was a better movie teased at the beginning than we wound up getting. Forgettable, go-nowhere villain. Action that doesn't really get good until the end and that break-away narration gag stopped being funny when Family Guy did it, so it's not really that inventive or fun there (or here, for that matter). But, this one goes in all the way on the heist movie theme and it works big time. Ghost is a much more effective "villain," though her story is so much more than that. Love the twist on a certain other character, too. Paul Rudd is great, as usual, but Evangeline Lilly is where this movie's at. Wasp makes this so much better than it probably had any room or right to be. Michael Douglas once again delivers the heart and deeper emotional connections. There's not a lot of Michelle Pfeiffer, but she is good when she's there. Hopefully everyone knows by now to stay after the credits in a Marvel Studios film. Especially is you've already seen Infinity War. Which you kinda should before you watch this.

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) has only a few days left on his plea-bargained house arrest after he got in trouble helping out Captain America during the events of Civil War (i.e. the big fight at the German airport). He's kept himself busy starting up a new company with some ex-con friends (including the delightful Michael Pena), playing with his daughter, and taking lots of baths. His latest bath includes a weird dream where he was Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer). Janet was partners with the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). She was lost in the Quantum Realm twenty-some years ago. She's also the mother of Hope (Evangeline Lilly) who has been working with her father Hank to save Janet from the Quantum Realm. Turns out his dream wasn't just a dream, because father and daughter opened a portal to the Quantum Realm just when Scott had the dream. The dream had details about Janet that Scott didn't know. Hope and Hank kidnap Scott from his house arrest so that they can finally get their loved one back.

I loved the first Ant-Man movie, especially the chemistry and banter between Scott and Hope (really between Scott and anyone). This movie carries that tradition, especially while Hope is still mad at Scott. I couldn't be happy with this film without a fun story from Luis. It takes a while into the film before it happens, and there is only one, but it doesn't disappoint. I laughed throughout and enjoyed the concepts in this chapter of Ant-Man's story. Trips into dream states and the journey into the quantum realm deliver some amazing visual and audio effects. The Dolby Atmos in this soundtrack is excellent (which I welcomed after being underwhelmed with many of Disney's 4K releases in regards to Atmos). The HDR offers a lot of vibrant color to many scenes, especially in the quantum realm. If you enjoyed the first film, and are into awesome visuals and sound, you won't be disappointed with Ant-Man and the Wasp.