{"id":352,"date":"2018-07-15T01:41:34","date_gmt":"2018-07-15T01:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=352"},"modified":"2018-07-16T02:01:39","modified_gmt":"2018-07-16T02:01:39","slug":"ant-man-and-the-wasp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=352","title":{"rendered":"Ant-Man and the Wasp"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Scott Lang\u2019s (Paul Rudd) alter ego is diminutive in name only, because pretty much everything about \u201cAnt-Man and the Wasp\u201d is big-time<\/em> exciting, enjoyable and entertaining.<\/p>\n

From the plotline to the character actions and interactions, to the eye-popping effects, I dare you to not have fun.<\/p>\n

Explained in detail in the film\u2019s opening moments, the story here is unique and straightforward \u2013 and inundated with \u201cquantum\u201d this or that to a ridiculous and hilarious degree \u2013 with a few subplots mixed in to layer the narrative and increase adventure by adding complexity and danger.<\/p>\n

Even with that, \u201cAnt-Man and the Wasp\u201d has a more lighthearted tone and feels less perilous than most Marvel flicks. But I\u2019m totally fine with that, after the gut punch that was \u201cAvengers: Infinity War<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

I think a lot of that feel is because our hero is so freaking charismatic and likeable. Scott always is playful and upbeat, he never gets angry or confrontational, and he has the<\/em> most adorable conversations with his wise-beyond-her-years daughter, Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson).<\/p>\n

This guy is repeatedly thrown into bizarre situations and is just like, \u201cMeh, okay. Whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whether or not he\u2019s in the \u201cwork in progress\u201d Ant-Man suit Scott seems never to get rattled, and he\u2019s polite to boot: \u201cAnyone seen a Southern gentleman carrying a building?\u201d There\u2019s just something so inherently appealing about his disposition.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the banter \u2013 the flirty repartee between Scott and Hope\/Wasp (Evangeline Lilly); the cheeky digs, courtesy of Hank Pym (Michael Douglas); the paranoid ramblings of Luis (Michael Pena).<\/p>\n

And let me tell you, Luis is one hell of a scene stealer: his excitement upon discovering the Hot Wheels Rally Case; when he reveals to Hope, \u201cI would like a suit, y\u2019know\u2026 with minimal powers. Or just a suit, with no powers\u201d; the \u201ctruth serum\u201d; his beyond-incredible rant to Sonny Birch (Walton Goggins) and his goons, during which Luis\u2019s fast-talking, slang-infused narration awesomely describes what we\u2019re seeing while his voice delivers the lines of each character.<\/p>\n

I think he did this in 2015\u2019s \u201cAnt-Man<\/a>,\u201d too, and it\u2019ll never stop being funny.<\/p>\n

The effects are everything you\u2019d expect. They\u2019re flashy and colorful and creative, and the shifts in scale are so fluid that it\u2019s never a distraction when something or someone becomes tiny. Or regular sized. Or gigantic: \u201cSixty-five feet!\u201d<\/p>\n

Director Peyton Reed (\u201cAnt-Man\u201d) gives us some intense action, with engaging point-of-view shots; chase sequences that incorporate slowed motion to enhance detail or specific movements; quick edits for added immediacy; and our hero and heroine doing the big and small, back-and-forth deal to take advantage of their own technology and help deliver one especially fun movie of epic proportions.<\/p>\n

And just when you think the visuals can\u2019t get any cooler, the end credits roll over images of the most intricate miniature models, recapping a lot of the scenes from the movie with insane accuracy and detail.<\/p>\n

Be sure to look for Stan Lee, making his patented appearance. And you\u2019ll want to stay through the credits for those oh-so-favorite Marvel extras\u2026 because OHMIGOD!<\/p>\n

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@movieaddictmel<\/a>, and \u201clike\u201d her Facebook page\u00a0www.facebook.com\/movieaddictmel<\/a><\/em>. You also can email her at movieaddictmel@outlook.com<\/em>.<\/p>\n