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Created Jul 26, 2015 07:46PM PST • Edited Feb 18, 2023 09:04PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   Welcome Ant-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s an enjoyable new entrant. Amiable star Paul Rudd is super-easy to like and jocular enough to not take the whole Ant-Man thing too seriously. After all, he ends up in a major action sequence involving a Thomas the Tank Engine train set, as seen nearby.

   Ant-Man is a perfectly acceptable Marvel movie, especially for an origin story, somewhat akin to the first Thor in quality, albeit way different in tone and setting. Thor 2 ended up being better than its origin story, achieving greatness. Ant-Man’s anticipated return to the silver screen could likewise achieve greatness.

   As for this one, Peyton Reed’s movie from a Marvel braintrust script never achieves the buoyant jokiness it strives for, notwithstanding the deft and genial Paul Rudd and some inspired silliness from Michael Peña.

   It also suffers from a second-rate villain, the most important character in any action movie. Corey Stoll is more dick than deviant, more mendacious than maniacal, more tawdry than terrifying. Those are the dings.

   Otherwise Ant-Man is a pleasant little powerhouse of a superhero movie, a bitching little blockbuster that bodes well for the future, as if the future wasn’t already looking pretty bright for Marvel Studios before Scott Lang / Ant-Man came along. Now there’s a new member of the Avengers in town. Look out below.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Paul Rudd is like a genial Robert Downey, Jr. as Scott Lang / Ant-Man. His quips are harmless, he’s kinda lovable and he lacks major neuroses, albeit not problems, which makes him a kinder, gentler superhero.

   Evangeline Lilly looks like Bryce Dallas Howard from Jurassic World with her flapper-bob. Same stylist? In any case, she’s charismatic and tough enough that I’m looking forward to seeing her in future episodes.

   Michael Douglas slums effectively as her father, Dr. Henry ‘Hank’ Pym, the original Ant-Man.

   Supporters

   • Corey Stoll disappoints as the super villain, as described in the summary commentary above.
   • Judy Greer never disappoints, with the estimable Bobby Cannavale as her boyfriend.
   • Abby Ryder Fortson is cute as her and Rudd’s daughter.
   • Anthony Mackie underwhelms in a couple of brief scenes as Falcon, one of the exalted Avengers.
   • Michael Peña mugs well as Rudd’s prison buddy. Unfortunately, the jokes he’s given don’t work.
   • John Slattery makes a better impression than he has before as Howard Stark, father to Tony Stark.

   Stan Lee’s cameo comes at the end. It’s worth waiting for.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    Kevin Feige has produced for Marvel to the tune of $8.3 Billion. That’s EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS! He keeps to the deep Marvel canon, or more specifically insists that the directors he hires keep to the canon.

    Peyton Reed does, directing from a screenplay by Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay & Paul Rudd, who worked from a story by Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish.

    Stan Lee, Larry Lieber & Jack Kirby’s names come last. It’s their Ant-Man on which the film is based.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Great 4.0

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

17. Sex Innocent 1.4

18. Violence Fierce 2.4

19. Rudeness Salty 1.8

21. Reality

    Supernatural 4.0

    Conservation of Energy continues to be the number one Law of Science that Marvel ignores.

    Circumstantially, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber & Jack Kirby start yet another story in WWII fighting the Nazis.

22. Circumstantial Supernatural 3.4

23. Biological Supernatural 3.5

24. Physical Fantasy 5.0