Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania starts the MCU's Phase Five on uneven footing. The film throws every can of paint in the garage at the screen while struggling with tone and convincing character dynamics. There are abstract new settings and an assortment of supporting aliens that are difficult to name without looking at a cast breakdown. Quantumania does achieve one important goal, though. Jonathan Majors is an absolute beast as Kang the Conqueror. The multiverse super villain lives up to the hype.
Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) has become an A-list celebrity. His turn as an Avenger and Blip-reversing heroics have solidified stardom. Everyone wants a selfie and autograph. Meals are on the house. Baskin-Robbins names him "Employee of the Century." There are lines out the door for his book readings. He relishes fame while his significant other Hope (Evangeline Lilly) uses Pym Particles for the public good.
Troublemaker Cassie
Eighteen-year-old Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton) has followed in her father's troublemaker footsteps. She's constantly getting arrested. Cassie believes that Scott can do more to help people. Saving the world, defeating Thanos, and bringing billions back from disintegration just isn't good enough. Apparently, papa needs to put in more effort.
A family dinner leads to Cassie showing her and Hank's (Michael Douglas) new project. She's invented a beacon that can send and receive subatomic signals to the Quantum Realm. A horrified Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer) pulls the plug too late. The device generates a portal that sucks them in. Scott and Hope activate their suits as everyone tumbles apart. She grabs her parents while Scott secures Cassie. Two groups land in a strange and exotic environment. Janet has kept dark secrets about her decades apart. A terrifying threat hunts them. They must find Scott and Cassie before he does. Kang (Majors) cannot be allowed to escape his imprisonment.
Visual Overload in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Disney
The previous Ant-Man films showed the scale of his abilities against known objects. Scott shrinking cars or riding a flying bug through San Francisco looked cool because everything was relatable. You know the size of a building in comparison. The Quantum Realm is akin to living in a technicolor petri dish. There's an overload of visual stimuli that detracts from the action. Huge amoeboids soar while CGI goop critters get friendly with the protagonists. The size-shifting gimmick doesn't work until they fight Kang's humanoid forces in the climax. I also don't understand why Ant-Man moves so slowly in giant form. He lumbers when there should be no difference in speed.
Quantumania bounces back and forth from silly to serious. Scott and Cassie joke around while Kang is a walking scowl. There balance between lighthearted and intense could have been more delicate. The humor needed better placement when fighting such a ruthless adversary.
Jonathan Majors as Kang
There are few surprises to the narrative. I kept waiting for something unexpected to happen. Hope doesn't say much. The focus is clearly on building Cassie's character and introducing Kang. Cassie's attitude makes little sense and seems forced. Kang hits like a heart attack. Majors makes his presence felt in a lackluster sequel. Stick around during and after the credits.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a production of Marvel Studios. It will be released theatrically on February 17th from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.