By CYNTHIA BIDDLECOMBThe movie “Ant-Man” about another of Marvel Comic’s Avengers, opened Friday.
Vastly entertaining, the film not only has several funny lines, it also takes one’s imagination to the micro-reality of the insect world. Interestingly enough, the character of Ant-Man first appeared in Marvel’s Premiere #47-48 in 1979.
The idea of a movie featuring this superhero has been in the works since 1980.
In this film version, Michael Douglas plays the original Ant-Man, Dr. Hank Pym. He is older and weaker now; he needs someone to don the Ant-Man costume and stop his former protégé from turning his original technology to evil purposes. His daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) wants to don the suit, but Pym won’t risk it.
Movie poster for ‘Ant-Man.’ Courtesy Reel Deal Theater
Enter Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, an electrical engineer with a master’s degree. After being fired for whistleblowing, Lang “burgled” his former employer’s premises in order to expose the data that would justify his complaint against the company. He got caught. The film opens with Lang preparing to leave San Quentin after serving time for that offense.
As an ex-con, Lang has trouble finding and keeping a job. Without the income, he can’t pay child support. And without the child support, his ex-wife (and her policeman husband played by Bobby Canavale) won’t let him see their daughter Cassie. Scott is motivated to turn his life around for Cassie, but it won’t be easy. If doesn’t help that he falls back in with other ex-cons whose job ideas are heists.
Without giving away too much of the storyline, I can say that Lang gets caught at Pym’s house in an attempted heist. Pym sets him up for a job as the Ant-Man. The rest is of the story is the caper.
Ant-Man is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence. A child in the story is endangered by the bad guy, which could traumatize a very young viewer. The ants and insects almost look real which could creep out some people. But those interested in such things may find the ants captivating as they work together under Ant-Man’s direction.
The movie is showing in 3D and is worth it. Some scenes in miniature settings and others in a subatomic environment are best experienced in 3D. Oh, and stay after for two little vignettes during and after the credits!
If you are a Marvel comic book fan or just a fan of these Marvel movies, you will enjoy this film. If you haven’t any idea about the Avengers, this story does not depend on their storylines to advance the plot, so here’s as good a place to begin to dabble in Marvel’s world as any. In Marvel’s world, the good guys usually win.
