Directed by Peyton Reed (Bring It On, The Break-Up) and starring Paul Rudd (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, I Love You, Man, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues), Michael Douglas (Wall Street, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Behind the Candelabra, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, War of the Roses) and Evangeline Lilly (Lost, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, The Hurt Locker, Real Steel).
Fantasy Adventure; 117 mins; 6+
A much better than average adaptation of a Marvel Comics super-hero tale brought to the big screen. The story starts out with Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) storming out of his company after he finds his protogée has been trying to steal his invention. In paralled, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is released from prison and vows to go straight, if only to get to see his daughter whose mother is now married to a police officer.
To cut a long, and arguably slightly unclear, sub-plot short, Scott Lang finds himself as Ant-Man who, when he dons a unique suit, can shrink to the size of an ant. He builds up his speed and agility to be able to fit through keyholes and other miniscule gaps, while retaining his strength, enabling him to have the upper hand in many situations.
That is, until Pym's former protogée cracks the code and releases his own version, the Yellow Jacket, who Ant-Man/Scott Lang has to do battle with, and defeat. He must work alongside Pym's daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) who has a foot inside the business too.
While the special effects are indeed stunning, aided perhaps with 3D glasses, it is the chemistry between the actors, not only the leads, and the various sub-plots, that are glued togetehr seamlessly to ensure the audience is brought on a thrilling ride that will surely see a sequel in the works before too long. It is funny at the right moments, but it is the dialogue and directing that set this apart from other super-hero films.
