Ant-Man and the Wasp review: Even smaller scale, even bigger heart

Enlarge (credit: Marvel Studios)

For some fans, 2015's Ant-Man was a breath of fresh air after the save-the-world insanity of many other Marvel Studios films. But that comic series' small-suit, big-screen debut was still glued to Avengers plot lines, which arguably dragged its momentum and fun. (This fact may have caused a rift between Marvel and the film's original director, Edgar Wright, who was rumored to have a sillier, more standalone film in mind before leaving Ant-Man.)

A few years later, the Avengers side of things is even more insane. Ant-Man was noticeably absent from Infinity War, and this week's Ant-Man and the Wasp explains why: to give Infinity War haters a silly, one-off antidote. Basically, Wright's reported vision has finally emerged, one film later.

Everything good about Ant-Man-its heart, its humor, and its brisk take on smaller-scale superhero action-is back and better. By focusing on its best characters, Ant-Man and the Wasp makes room for convincing relationships and character-building; it makes viewers give a crap about its cast... and forgive the film's few imperfections.

Read 13 remaining paragraphs | Comments