Like Ant-Man, this movie grows on you. Unlike Ant-Man, it doesn't shrink in its efforts to amuse you. Funny and quirky, yet sometimes silly and nonsensical, you will still have a good time. Not all the jokes hit the mark, especially in the first half hour. Stick with it and it hits its stride. Michael Pena is always crazy, but his two employees, Tip "T.I." Harris and David Dastmalchian, are nice complements as his zany employees. If you get tied up into the science of the quantum realm, then you will likely find this film wanting. Try to ignore that part and just enjoy the ride. And the ride is pretty cool as we jump from Hot Wheels to full-size and back.
The movie opens with the background of the how the original Wasp, Hank Pym's wife Janet, gets stuck in the Quantum Realm. Next, we find Ant-Man on house arrest at his friend's residence, being very closely monitored by the FBI. As Hank and his daughter, Hope, try to rescue Janet, Ant-Man receives a "message" from Janet. To finalize his rescue tunnel, Hank buys a part from Sonny Burch who double-crosses him. He is not the only one who wants Hank's technology; the Ghost needs it and is not concerned about the consequences. But how is The Ant-Man to help when he has an ankle monitor to contend with?
Paul Rudd is Scott Lang/Ant-Man; his ability to deliver a joke may not be as good as Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool, but it ain't bad. Evangeline Lilly is Hope van Dyne/Wasp and she certainly packs a sting, a welcome addition. Walton Goggins is Burch, solid, but not nearly as good as in Justified. Let him loose! Hannah John-Kamen is The Ghost and I am sure we will see much more of her. Randall Park as Jimmy Woo, the FBI agent, has some funny scenes trying to keep up with Ant-man. Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet/the original Wasp, are some of the weaker characters as they try to explain the "science stuff." Laurence Fishburne, a former partner of Pym's, suffers from the same script issue. The cute kid, Ant-Man's daughter, is played by Abby Ryder Fortson. As with most movie kids, you will want to adopt her.
The original Ant-man had a budget somewhere north of $150 million and made nearly $520 million.
I'll be surprised if this one doesn't do as well. It is noteworthy that the film's release in the United Kingdom is delayed until after The World Cup. One can not be expected to watch insects when there is futbol to be played! After the lousy ending in Avengers: Infinity War, the humorous touch was welcome, although make sure you stay for the mid-credits scene. The "truth serum" scenes are some of the funnier you will see this year. For those of you tiring of comic book superheroes saving the world, give this one a chance; Ant-Man is more interested in saving people and being a parent. And, for that, we can put up with a few bugs.