Of all the heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ant-Man has always been sort of the overlooked underdog, so much so that many fans either skipped his second movie (2018’s Ant-Man And The Wasp) or don’t remember much of it even if they have; I dare you to tell me the name of the villain in that movie without looking it up.

Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania changes all of that and it’s the best Ant-Man movie yet, even if that doesn’t sound like much of a high bar.

Baskin Robbins 31

Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania is the 31st film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang previously worked at Baskin Robbins. I don’t know if that’s intentional or not, but it’s still a funny coincidence. I digress. Thankfully, this movie’s quality and focus feel closer to that of MCU movies from before the post-Avengers Endgame Phase Four films such as Thor Love And Thunder and Eternals, many of which have been divisive. It’s a great sign for what’s to come in the new Phase Five of the MCU if the quality of Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania is any indication.

Of course, I can’t spoil the movie, but the gist of it is that the Ant-Man family (consisting of Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang, Kathryn Newton’s Cassie Lang, Evangeline Lily’s Hope Van Dyne, Michelle Pfeiffer’s Janet Van Dyne and Michael Douglas’ Hank Pym) meets Kang The Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) in the Quantum Realm. I say the Ant-Man family, because unlike previous Ant-Man films, Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania features strong family elements and dynamics, specifically exploring the relationship between Scott Lang and his daughter, Cassie Lang. This results in a movie with a much more emotional tone compared to past Ant-Man films.

What makes Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania unique even amongst the plethora of MCU films is that it’s primarily a science fiction film, with elements inspired by pulp sci-fi and space operas like Flash Gordon, Star Wars and more. Overall, it feels a lot like a Jules Verne novel coming to life, sort of like a Journey To The Center Of The Earth feel to the movie. For that reason, it’s definitely a great choice to make more than 90 per cent of the movie take place in the Quantum Realm. Yeah, the movie really doesn’t waste time, since the characters spend time in the Quantum Realm for most of the movie’s two-hour-plus runtime.

The MVP of the movie is unsurprisingly Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror. He brings a level of intensity and menace to the villain, as well as being physically imposing despite being just a human in a suit. While Josh Brolin undoubtedly did a great job with Thanos, some of that can be attributed to the motion capture wizardry. Here, it’s Jonathan Majors’ charisma and presence all the way. With only a single movie appearance (well, and in the Loki Season 1 finale), he proves that he has what it takes to be the next big bad of the MCU. Avengers The Kang Dynasty can’t come soon enough.

With all that said, Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania does have its flaws. The movie is a tad too predictable in terms of its plot, especially if you’re already familiar with some of what’s already been said about the movie from cast interviews and trailers. There’s not much in regard to genuine surprises, with the exception of the two post-credits scenes, but that’s not technically part of the movie itself. There’s also a bit of a pacing issue with the film, as some parts feel draggy and drawn out, but that’s probably because there’s a fair bit of exposition in this movie (since it has the burden of introducing Kang The Conqueror).

A New Phase Begins

Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania is definitely a must-watch if you’re looking forward to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even if you’re feeling fatigued from the inconsistency of Phase Four, this movie gives the MCU a shot of adrenaline that it sorely needs. Let’s hope that the MCU is able to maintain this level of focus and quality for the coming movies and TV series.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100

We attended an early screener of Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania courtesy of The Walt Disney Company Malaysia. Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 16 February 2023.