I really don't have much to say as far as Ant Man. It's definitely good, but it's a plain type of good. It's definitely worth seeing, but I don't feel that there is anything drastically special to analyze in it. I've found that is becoming a problem with MCU films that are just plain good movies because they all seem very similar. So just like my Selma review I'm gonna just go ahead and list what does work, and what does not work. The Good: 1. Ant Man has much more personal stakes which allows the film to delve into the characters, which is a good thing because the characters are particularly strong. The actors playing them are also really standing out, with Michael Douglas, Paul Rudd, and Michael Pena. 2. The action is astounding. When Scott (our protagonist) shrinks down, the effects become astounding. There's a surprising sense of wonder to the proceedings with incredible and funny scenes of this tiny man fighting people, and trying not to get stepped on. 3. This film was directed by Peyton Reed, a comedy director, and it shows. The direction has the momentum that you usually see in a comedy (see Paul Feig's excellent Spy) which adds excitement to the action sequences, and allows the film to breeze by. This also benefits the film because it makes it wonderfully funny. Paul Rudd, and lot's of the cast are comedy actors, and they are pulling in fantastic work here. Michael Pena's comedic timing is for the ages. 4. The way this film brings the MCU into more cosmic territory is creative, and when you see some of the easter eggs you will be excited if you pay attention to that stuff (which I do). The Bad: 1. For all the strong characters, the story isn't particularly strong which makes the film seem shallow. Now the energy and pacing make up for that for the most part, but it feels to slow down a little with that. 2. Most of the side stories and arches are kind of up in the air during most of the film. It all stays fun enough to keep it's head above the water, but it's a disappointing fact that we didn't get more from them, especially Scott's arch with his daughter. 3. Both the villain Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) and the love interest named Hope, played by Evangeline Lily, are robbed of having much to do. They are given enough to do, with each going through a short arch, but Stoll's character is especially neglected with Cross just being bad because of a sloppy element that ended up in the script. But the energy of the film makes up for it, just like it makes up for the other story shortcomings. I give Ant Man an 8.5 out of 10. Reviewed by Stephen Tronicek
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archive
December 2017
CategoriesAuthorHello welcome to FilmAnalyst. My name is Stephen Tronicek, and I really like movies. This is a way to get my opinions out to people. Thank you for visiting. |