Making his big screen debut, pun intended, comes a very different superhero in the Marvel Universe: ANT-MAN.
Co-created by Stan Lee who also co-created Spider-Man, The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and many others, Ant-Man first appeared in Marvel Comics over 50 years ago in 1962. This, however, is the first cinematic adaption of the character. The Ant-Man film has been in development since the mid 1980s.
ANT-MAN is the 12th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This latest installment has been directed by Peyton Reed, whose is best known for his comedy films such as Bring It On, The Break Up and Yes Man.
Perennial movie audience favourite Paul Rudd plays the titular character and alter ego Scott Lang, a former systems engineer and master thief who released after three years in prison. In the film’s opening scene, we discover that Lang is struggling to get his life back on track after been divorced by his wife Maggie (Judy Greer) and being denied access and visiting rights to his young daughter and only child Cassie (Abby Ryder Forston). To make matters worse, Paxton, the family’s new step father and husband is a cop who has a strong dislike for Lang.
Michael Douglas plays the original Ant-Man and inventor Hank Pym who acts as a mentor to Lang and teaches him on how to use the suit that allows him to shrink to any size but also increase his power.
Corey Stoll is the film’s adversary, Darren Cross, a former protégé of Pym, who takes over Pym’s company and tries to create his own version of the Ant-Man technology and sell it to investors and seek world-wide domination.
Hank’s daughter and love interest to Lang is Hope, played by Evangeline Lilly. Originally a senior board member of Pym Technologies, who helps Darren Cross take over the company and oust her own father and company founder, she secretly assists Hank in preventing Cross from manufacturing the suit.
Like all the Marvel films this film has stunning visual effects and action fight sequences and unlike previous Marvel superhero films doesn’t take itself too seriously!
There are plenty of funny moments in the movie, a highlight being the scene when Paul Rudd breaks the fourth wall and satirises some typically over the top Hollywood scenes/moments.
It’s been a great year financially so far for Marvel. The second Avengers film Avengers: Age of Ultron, which opened in May to positive reviews, is currently the third highest grossing film of the year, taking in over $1 billion, $455.2 million alone in North America.
The future looks even brighter for Marvel fans. Back to back Avenger sequels are already in the works with Part 1 is scheduled to be released in 2018 and Part 2 scheduled in 2019. The third standalone Captain America is due to release sometime in 2016.
ANT-MAN is a film that will have the most appeal for kids, die-hard comic book devotees and action hero fans. It is screening in cinemas now.