[Midnight Review] Ant-Man (2015)

cast: Paul  Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Anthony Mackie, Wood Harris, Judy Greer, David Dastmalchian, Michael Douglas, John Slattery and Hayley Atwell

directed by: Peyton Reed

Second chances don’t come around all that often. I suggest you take a really close look at it. This is your chance to earn that look in your daughter’s eyes, to become the hero that she already thinks you are. (Hank Pym)

The process of making “Ant-Man” is worth a movie of its own. We start with the creation period, we get to the juicy part with Marvel taking a shine on it and we get the drama of Edgar Wright exiting the creative match. Let me say it loud and clear – brace yourselves because there will be a lot of issues said loud and clear and since this movie is already in cinemas, there will be also some spoilers, don’t say you haven’t been warned – that Marvel owns these movies from start to finish. I’m sorry fans but when you run a company, even if the creative, talented one comes to your door and pitches something outside the box, you follow the matrix. Marvel is a corporation. If you hate the atmosphere and you don’t blend in, sorry, there’s no room for you. Marvel put out great movies and follows a schedule of releases. We’ve all heard the news, the directors who didn’t get to do what they wanted. Sorry guys, you were hired to put together a blockbuster, you weren’t called to do a new version of ”Casablanca”. You go with the flow, all is nice and everyone is happy, you begin to bitch, yet you collect the royalties, there’s the door, thank you. I know it’s a harsh vision but it’s an entrepreneur one. Marvel didn’t get where it is by not sticking to the program. Newsflash! Next year, there’s a big battle ahead. Marvel finally meets DC on a heavy weight territory. DC already won the crowd at San Diego Comic Con. There’s no room for mistakes and right now, I’m here to tell if “Ant-Man” was a mistake.

“Ant-Man” came after “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and tried to pull a phase one move while wrapping phase two. I tell you, from the start, with blessed be Edgar in the corner, I wasn’t feeling kosher about this movie. It should have been brought either before Iron Man 3 or after, give it time to ride the big wave of Avengers (2012) royalties. I’m looking at the numbers on this fine, hot, Sunday night. They’re not encouraging. Iron Man 3 wiped the floor, box-office wise and was launched in the wake of “Avengers”. Although “Ant-Man” follows a crafty, well established formula, it fails to thrill and produce the sparks.

It feels like a retold Iron Man (2008). That’s right. It’s a Phase Two movie with the flavor of a Phase One picture and who earned a little bit more in the opening weekend that The Incredible Hulk. Yes, the second lowest debut. I wouldn’t be too happy if I was Kevin Feige. And this comes down to the wish of the seniors at Marvel to produce this movie through all the drama, critics, fan-outburst and many raised eyebrows. Through thick and thin, “Ant-Man” tried to be a stand alone project although connected to the MCU.

Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas have a good chemistry and work the ropes of the apprentice and teacher game. There is also the family drama so dear to the Marvel gang. This time we get the father and daughter trials and tribulations – I guess after the Stark drama and the Odin royal family fiasco, it was time to enter the daughters territory once and for all and since Gamora and Nebula were fun, let’s take it to Earth now. Evangeline Lilly gives her best and manages to become a solid addition to the team. The Wasp was in the making for many years in the MCU and we finally get to see what the future holds. I guess Civil War will have to deliver an incredible, breath-taking, in your face epicness. Or fail and let Dawn of the Justice League shine. Guess for which team I’m cheering.

Although “Ant-Man” feels like a reheated “Iron-Man”, the tongue and cheek keep us warm but not too long. Here comes the villain.

Dear Marvel, I know you pitch Thanos like the second coming and used Loki to the edge and back and still try to milk him for what he’s worth but try to comprehend that an actor like Corey Stoll who is given a cliche role and some laughable lines can’t connect to the audience even if he looked like Tatum naked on a hot summer night.

Dear Marvel, it’s time you give us some strong, worthy, terrifying villains in the MCU. Phase Two lacked a solid villain. I was possible the only one in Romania and possible a member of an inner circle of disciples who worked her way and understood what you did with the Mandarin, trust me, I had and still have to explain what I saw and what others failed to see and it’s starting to be tiresome. I closed my eyes on Malekith, I shrugged on Alexander Pearce, I understood the Thanos cameo and the black and white nuances of Ronan, Korath and Nebula. I liked Ultron but Marvel, I hated the Yellowjacket. What the Hell were you thinking when DC is breathing in your neck and raised the crowds at San Diego? What are you going to do? Pull another Loki coming in Hall H? It doesn’t work like that. I hoped for the adaptation of Demon in the Bottle and suffered through Disney’s “I can’t get close to a an R rating”. Thank God there is Deadpool out-there.

Dear Marvel, get back on that motherfucking high horse and start the conquering campaign because “Ant-Man” was a Phase One movie who shouldn’t have been “allowed” to grace the screen right now. This movie closes an already dark and fairly uneven Phase Two.

Dear Marvel, next year you’re facing DC’s mightiest and Marvel, I don’t want you to get your ass kicked and served.

A heist-movie with a few cameos and some good acting saving some ridiculous roles should not be the production launched in the wake of the Avengers second installment.

This is a clear warning Marvel. Don’t let the fresh RottenTomatoes and a couple of good reviews make you think you did some good here. You didn’t. And this comes from a fan.

Edge and Back: 7.5/10