If you would have told me 20 years ago that Ant-Man would be a successful movie franchise, I would have laughed in your face.
Fast forward to 2023 and we now have the 3rd installment and the 1st film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 5. To make this movie the starting point of such an ambitious slate of upcoming releases seemed odd to me but when I finished watching it (sit through the entire crawl of credits at the end for two goodies), it made complete sense especially since we really start to get to know the upcoming, multiversal baddie, Kang The Conqueror.
Marvel Studios definitely has another hit on their hands and Paul Rudd has proven that he can carry the franchise along with an array of seasoned actors like Bill Murray, Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer. Also, Kathryn Newton does a great job playing Cassie Lang (the future Young Avenger Stature) and gives us a preview of what to look forward to if the Young Avengers does get greenlit by Marvel Studios. Evangeline Lily returns, too, but I was disappointed because I was looking forward to her shine but that was never going to happen with the formal introduction of Kang.
Jonathan Majors’ performance of Kang the Conquerer was astounding and incredibly evil. His delivery of lines in the film was down right creepy and made the hair on my arms rise. I was doubtful at first especially since we were first introduced to him in the Loki series but that was just a taste. Jonathan really “went in” and found his inner maniacal villain and it was just scrumptious to watch. His performance reminded me a lot of Ian McDiarmid’s Emperor Papatine from the Star Wars franchise down to the holographic monologue that Kang gives as his “empire” prepares to take over the universe along with an army of stormtrooper like soldiers that look like they just came straight out of a Tron movie.
Quantumania is by far my favorite of the Ant-Man films because it’s unlike the first two. The world building that is achieved leaves the door wide open for Marvel to tell other stories within the Quantum Realm. The introduction of characters like Jentorra (played by Katy M. O’Brian) who is the leader of the rebel resistance and the telepath Quaz (played by William Jackson Harper) were an added delight to the MCU and if Peyton Reed decides to show run a Quantum Realm series, he may have another hit on his hands.
Reed also gives us homages of sci-fi references that we never got to see with his first two films (because he probably didn’t have the budget) which made this film so much more exciting to watch. For example, Pfieffer (reprising her role as the original Wasp, Janet Van Dyne) riding an enormous manta-like creature through the Quantum Realm gave me fierce Avatar vibes. Another example is Michael Douglas (reprising his role as Hank Pym) commanding an army of enormous ants reminiscent of the 1977 B-Horror flick Empire of the Ants. I even felt a little Barbarella moment at times (and who doesn’t like a Barbarella moment). It felt like Reed was pandering (in a good way) to every sci-fi/fantasy fan boy/girl/person who has been waiting for Phase 5 to begin and I’m all for it!
My only complaint about the movie is that they completely diminished the character of M.O.D.O.K (played by Corey Stoll). If you’re a fan of this Marvel Villain, you will definitely not be happy with how they decided to introduce this character into the MCU. In the comics, M.O.D.O.K. is a sinister and cunning super villain who is part of the criminal organization A.I.M.
In Quantumania, Darren Cross (the former Yellowjacket) becomes M.O.D.O.K. with the help of Kang and in return for saving his life and giving him purpose, M.O.D.O.K. becomes Kang’s head assassin (which sounds cool but when you watch the movie, you’ll understand my disappointment). The only thing I think of is that maybe he’s a variant and we will see the real M.O.D.O.K. or M.O.D.O.C. in another MCU film? Wishful thinking?
That said, I highly recommend you go see this movie. It was a rollercoaster of a ride and well worth the wait!
By Carlos Ojeda