The new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) commences with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. I don’t want to jinx myself by writing this, but the MCU is finally getting back into its old groove of making breathtaking movies that are funny, captivating, emotional, and action-packed.
Some notable aspects of this movie include its world-building, set design, makeup, and special effects. The movie producers create a whole other universe seeable only through a movie screen: the quantum realm.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with quantum realism, quantum physics deals with things that are incredibly small—smaller than an atom. So, quantum realism doesn’t refer to a different place; rather it is the viewing of something on a microscopic level.
“There are worlds here— worlds upon worlds; it’s a place outside time and space. It’s a secret universe beneath ours,” said Janet Van Dyne, played by Michelle Pfeiffer.
The number of species that exist in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is astounding. There are oozes, robots, live buildings, telepaths, squid people, and insect people. For crying out loud, the movie has a living broccoli person that’s crazy, and I love it.
The director Peyton Reed knew what he was doing when creating this new subatomic universe; every animal, plant, building, and person is so vibrant it leaves any viewer impressed.
While I can go on and on about the world, let’s discuss some specifics of the movie. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania follows Scott Lang, played by Paul Rudd, who is enjoying life after becoming an avenger, having helped bring back humanity after the blip, and being a famous author (though he might get confused for Spider-Man from time to time, especially when getting coffee).
As Scott comfortably goes on with his life, his daughter Cassie Lang, played by Kathyrn Newton, is getting into trouble. She feels that there is still unfinished business, despite the fact that the Avengers had won the great battle.
Many people are left homeless after the blip. Cassie tries to help her hometown of San Francisco in spite of whatever repercussions she may face in the process.
Scott doesn’t think this is his daughter’s battle to fight, believing Cassie should try to focus on having an everyday life by going out with friends, enrolling in school, and meeting a boy. However, Cassie had never had an ordinary life since the Yellowjacket showed up in her room when she was six. She responds to her father’s protests, “Just because it’s not happening to you doesn’t mean it’s not happening.”
However, with help from her stepmom Hope Van Dyne, played by Evangeline Lilly, and Hope’s dad Dr. Hank Pym, played by Michael Douglas, the three of them work together on some special equipment she believes can help a lot of people.
Cassie has built a machine that can help them map and communicate with the quantum realm; when Hope’s mom Janet catches wind of this, she demands Cassie shut it down at once.
As Cassie shows off the machine to her family, it suddenly pulls everyone in the room into the quantum realm.
Consequently, the family is split: Scott with Cassie and Hope with her mother and father. Janet wants to find Cassie and Scott immediately so they can leave the quantum realm, but there’s something she’s not telling everyone; a deep dark secret she doesn’t want anyone to find out.
What awaits them? Are they welcome in this new, strange place? How will they get back home? You’ll just have to see for yourselves. But, I won’t leave you hanging.
You’ll see old faces from earlier films, a new villain, and the inevitable possibility of something disastrous. Just remember one thing when watching Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania: watch out for the little guy.
As a heads up to whoever sees this movie, there are two post-credit scenes I think everyone needs to see.
With this movie being two hours and five minutes long and PG-13 rated, I give Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 4.8 out of 5 stars. My two main complaints about the film are that some of the fight scenes happen way too fast and that one of the villains looks weird.
