The Marvel Movie On Disney+ That Brings Tons Of Joy To The MCU

I’ve read my kids Marvel and DC comics as well as the shortened versions of them in children’s books since they were very little, and Ant-Man has long been one of their favorite characters. However, we typically read the Ant-Man stories that revolve around Hank Pym and his adventures creating the suit, the Pym particles, and the surrounding technology that allowed for Ant-Man to become a superhero fighting all kinds of evil. 

It was a surprise and delight to watch the first Ant-Man movie Marvel gave us in 2015, which is centered around Pym’s modern day successor, Scott Lang, an electronics expert and cat burglar. As the film opens, we see Scott leaving prison after a three year stint for hacking into a corrupt corporation and returning all its stolen money to the people it robbed. Yes, he is a criminal, but he’s the kind of Robin Hood criminal with a golden heart.

This first Ant-Man film is Lang’s origin story, bringing him into the awareness of Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his daughter, Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lily). 

We also get Scott’s hysterical criminal crew of three, Luis (Michael Pena), Kurt (David Dastmalchian), and Dave (T.I.). Of course, the three burglars are no more dangerous than Scott himself is, and they bring fun, laughs, and wacky sidekick energy to the entire ensemble. In the first film, Scott must help Hank recover his technology and stop the villain, Darren (Corey Stoll) from developing weapons from an Ant-Man style suit.

Meanwhile, Scott has to stay out of prison so he can continue to see his young daughter, Cassie, and stay on the good side of his ex-wife, Maggie (Judy Greer) and her new boyfriend, Paxton (Bobby Cannavale), who just happens to be a cop. 

The film is nonstop action and laughs, with large items shrinking down and small items growing large, keeping audiences on their toes throughout. The second Ant-Man film, Ant-Man and the Wasp, comes after Scott has joined the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War, has Scott on house arrest awaiting release, and Hank and Hope upset with him for using the suit and not including them in the action. Of course, we get the old crew back together, a new bad guy, and hope in her mom’s suit.

This time around, we’re also on a hunt through the quantum realm to bring Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), Hank’s wife and Hope’s mom, back after she disappeared into it 30 years ago. 

GFR SCORE

The writers and director stepped up the silliness in Ant-Man and the Wasp, but kept the seriousness and intensity necessary for an action film, finding the perfect balance between fun and interesting. Scott now gets to not only shrink down to be Ant-Man but also grow to enormous heights. And the crew has to work to bring Janet back while fighting Ghost, a woman who “phases” into and out of her corporeal state.

The way the storyline arcs and wraps up is a beautiful example of how you can do a lot in a movie without making it over the top. (I’m looking at you, Quantumania.)

I cannot recommend Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp enough. Stream them on Disney+ the next chance you get, and be prepared to thoroughly enjoy yourself.