Being a dad is hard
Directed by: Peyton Reed
Written by: Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay, Paul Rudd
Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas , Corey Stoll, Michael Peña, Evangeline Lilly
Swift shot: Paul Rudd as Ant-Man? That was how I viewed this film, like, come on, how can Paul Rudd pull off being a super hero? I just didn’t see it . . . until I saw it! Ant-Man is the perfect fit for Rudd, especially with a script (originally) by Edgar Wright, whose playful dialog always takes the piss out of itself when it gets a bit too serious. And, what you end up with is a seriously, funny film that complements the Marvel universe like a Rube Goldberg device. I had tiny expectations for this film, ha ha ha, and I was pleasantly surprised by what I experienced.
Scott Lang (Rudd) is an ex-con, who was sent to prison for stealing money that was already being swindled by a large firm from its customers. Scott fancies himself as a good guy who couldn’t look the other way as his company stole . . . and got away with it. He’s been released from prison, and life should be easy for him, after all he’s got a Master’s in electrical engineering and possesses other skills. It isn’t. His ex-wife has moved on, and is now living with a cop, Paxton (Cannavale). Scott’s young daughter, Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson) really wants her daddy to be a part of her life. Cassie doesn’t understand why her dad made mistakes and isn’t allowed to see her. Scott is trying to provide for his daughter and do it legally. He discovers, it isn’t so simple. Scott’s past won’t go away.
Meanwhile, another father, Hank Pym (Douglas) is dealing with daughter issues of his own. After being unceremoniously bought-out by his daughter, Hope van Dyne (Lilly), Hank’s basically content with living his life in a sort of self-exile with limited interaction with Hope . . . or anyone human, really. That is until Hank’s former pupil, and now CEO of the Pym company, Darren Cross (Stoll) reveals he’s figured out a way to harness molecular size control. Cross is trying to sell his fancy new shrink ray to the Powers That Be (PTB). The military isn’t really interested unless they can shrink people, because let’s face it, shrinking robots is so last decade. But, Cross has a way of persuading his critics to shut up, and literally wipes the floor with them. Nice touch!
Hank realizes he must do whatever it takes to steal Cross’ new technology, especially since Cross is desperately ramping up organic testing. Cross is very close to shrinking more than just mechanical objects. Hank feared this technology getting into the wrong hands, for years, and that is why he allowed himself to be put out to pasture. That, and Hank is dealing with a pain that will never shrink, the loss of his wife. So, Hank finds Scott Lang and bestows upon him the Ant-Man suit. I know what you’re thinking . . . Rick, you said this film was funny! So far, it sounds like a melancholy drama. Enter Luis.
Luis (Pena) is Scott’s former cellmate, and pardon the cliche, Scott and he are thick as thieves. And that’s Scott’s problem, he likes Luis, and Luis was there to get him when he got out of jail. But while Luis wants to recruit Scott for more crimes, Scott is really trying to avoid criminal activity . . . particularly because his ex-wife has shacked up with a cop! Paxton is no friend of Scott’s, and he constantly belittles him as a man and a father. Luis provides the perfect buffoonery that you’d expect out of a Wright script. Scott, Hank Pym, and Hope team up with Luis and Luis’ crew of eclectic rogues, each with their own criminal skill set. They are planning an insane heist of Cross’ fortress.
Needless to say, Hank’s daughter, Hope is pretty pissed off at her father. She doesn’t understand why he’s trusting an ex-con to do what she should be doing. She has trained her whole life to essentially pick up where her father left off. She can communicate and control insects, she has martial arts training and is even forced to train her replacement . . . but I won’t go there. Hope is a reluctant partner in crime. But she understands what Cross will do once he’s discovered the miracle of human shrinking. So, with a lot of assistance from some bugs, this weird team of misfits has to try to work together to essentially save the planet. Now, if only they knew some super people that could help out. You’ll have to see for yourself.
What made Ant-Man such a fun film was that it didn’t (to quote Peter Griffin) insist upon itself; it was playful when it was needed. Anytime the melodrama started getting heavy, along would come some character or dialog that would bring you back to reality with a quick laugh. Unlike Green Lantern, it seemed to work, rather than annoy the audience. Paul Rudd is a comedian. He’s funny without trying, and Michael Douglas has two Academy Awards, and Michael Pena is funny throughout. The cinematography was handled well, and the scenes with the insects were as well done as I could hope. As much as I hate bugs, I was almost attached to them. Almost.
When the credits rolled on Ant-Man, I wanted to hit the replay button and watch it all again. It’s one of those rare films that you want to explain to your friends why it was so good, but it’s hard to describe without just seeing it. Ant-Man works like a “you had to be there” story. So, go, be there – see it! Oh, and unless you’re a Marvel rookie – stick around after the credits for an “about time” reveal that we’ve all been waiting to see!
