Sociable Movie Guy
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A MEMORABLE ENDING TO THE PHASE 2 OF MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE HELLO THERE!!! How are you guys doing? Hope you are blessed with the privilege to watch any movie anytime you want (it's indeed a rare privilege, isn't it?). I know it's been ages since the last time I wrote a review and how I beg your mercy for doing that. During my absence, I was so occupied with my undergraduate thesis I felt uneasy to do anything else. What matters now is I'm back and ready to give you the review that you (hopefully) need. Let's roll! There seems to be a new trend in Marvel Studios in choosing comedians to be their lead actors (so far only actors, but who knows in the near future we'll see Amy Schumer suit up in a Marvel film!). Starting from Chris Pratt who was picked to play the lead in 'Guardians of the Galaxy' (2014), the tradition now continues to its latest film 'Ant-Man'. The one who got lucky this time is Paul Rudd, an actor who's long known for his comedic works, such as in 'Anchorman' films and 'This is 40'. 'Ant-Man' tells the story of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a kind-hearted ex-prisoner who was sent to jail just because he chose to follow his instinct. One day, he and his gang revisit their past and embark on a mission to rob the house of a genius scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). What he thought as a regular robbery turns out to be more than meets the eye that will alter his life forever. I first thought 'Ant-Man' would be a mess since there was a change of director before the filming began. The original director, Edgar Wright, left the project due to creative differences. He was then replaced by Peyton Reed. This usually signals a problem for a film. Thankfully, that's not the case with 'Ant-Man'. It turned out to be one of the best films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here's why. Written by Edgar Wright, Adam McKay, Joe Cornish, and Paul Ruds, 'Ant-Man' offers a simple story with a far smaller scope than any recent Marvel movies. The good thing is, the simplicity in Ant-Man doesn't prevent it to be an irresistible superhero film. I also like how these writers managed to insert A LOT of cameos to the film. If those cameos don't trigger the child-like excitement in you, maybe you should check whether you're really a human or not. The story is of course not without flaws. One of them is the last one third of the film feels a tad too forced. Now let's talk about the performances. As a tough yet caring father, Michael Douglas gives weight to the film. Evangeline Lily is also fresh and screen-grabbing as the driven daughter of his. Corey Stoll is good too as the intelligent but mentally unstable villain Darren Cross. But as good as they can be, they're still not the acting highlights of the film. Yes, you read it right. It's highlight with an S. It's plural. It means there's not only one, but two performances that are more than worthy of your attention. The first one is Paul Rudd as the central charm of the film. He's funny, he's cool, he's pretty much what every man aspires to be. The other one is Michael Pena who's playing one of Scott's friends Luis. He's so hilarious he steals every scene he's in. If Ant-Man can be considered as a comedy in the next Golden Globe Awards, Pena deserves to be (at least) nominated in the Best Supporting Actor field. He's that good.
(MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED) Credits also go to the writers and director who make the film flows so enjoyably but never forgetting to put a careful amount of relatable depth. That depth is conveyed by the recurring theme throughout the film, which is father-daughter relationship. It's apparent between two pairs in the film, Scott and his daughter Cassie and Hank and his daughter Hope. Scott is trying his best to be recognized as the real hero by Cassie. While Hope always questions her dad why he never lets her follow his step to be the next Ant-Man. Those two side-conflicts are woven seamlessly and add to the dynamic of the film's story, which is a really good thing. Overall, 'Ant-Man' is a light entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that serves as the closing film of its Phase 2. The film will linger in your mind long after the credits roll for all the right reasons. Just remember one thing, you MUST NOT leave the theater when the lights go on for there are two post-credits scenes. One is in the middle and the other is at the very end. Make sure you catch them coz each scene is as important as each other. Score: 4/5
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AuthorA self-acclaimed movie guy who likes to socialize |