Coming off of the massive success of Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, it’s easy to wonder how Ant-Man and the Wasp will hold up. The film will show what’s been happening in Scott Lang’s world between the events of Civil War and Infinity War as well as officially introduce the Wasp to the MCU. Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige has teased that this film directly ties into Avengers 4, so we know it’ll have to cover some major ground. Did director Peyton Reed pull it off?
Currently Ant-Man and the Wasp is earning a 88% fresh rating and 6.8 out of 10 score on Rotten Tomatoes. Laughing Place’s own FanBoy reviewed the film and gladly shares his opinions of the latest installment in the MCU. As for the rest of the media, here’s a sampling of what critics are saying:
Rodrigo Perez of The Playlist comments on one of the titular heroes:
“Yet, there’s also a new hero in the title too, Hope Van Dyne’s The Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) which gives the movie some extra dimension, literally and figuratively. And while Ant-Man & The Wasp is arguably never her movie, it does end up being a kind of ensemble piece about family.”
Bilge Ebiri of The Village Voice:
“It’s disjointed, and cluttered, but it’s also entertaining in spurts. Is that enough? Just about, and not quite.”
The Hollywood Reporter’s Todd McCarthy:
“Given that there’s really nothing that the filmmakers could have done to disguise the truth of the matter, which is that Ant-Man really is a pipsqueak compared to the A-cast of Marvel superheroes, Marvel has done a pretty good job with its B team. After the heavy lifting involved in the studio’s most recent blockbusters, Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man lays out a welcome picnic.”
Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics:
“What the film does best, though, is entertain us with a kinetic romp through the Marvel Cinematic Universe without being held down by it.”
Johnny Oleksinski of The New York Post: “Oh, how the tiny have fallen. Ant-Man and the Wasp, the first sequel to 2015’s Ant-Man, is barely an exoskeleton next to its much better predecessor. It’s hard to believe that just three years ago, the superhero who turned shrinkage into a positive attribute was the rising star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Ignatiy Vishnevetsky of AV Club:
“Ant-Man And The Wasp is arguably even more of a straightforward comedy, to the point that it doesn’t even have a primary villain.”
Paste’s Will Leitch: “Occasionally agreeable but ultimately disposable, [it’s] a bauble that feels less like a fun side journey and more like a waste of everybody’s time.”
David Franich of Entertainment Weekly:
“This is one of those Marvel products peddling self-aware detachment as a defining narrative strategy…It feels less like a feature film than a meme somebody made about an Ant-Man trailer.”
IGN’s Laura Prudom notes the change in tone when it comes to villains:
“Although it ventures further away from Marvel’s traditional villain formula than any film before it, after the universal threat posed by Thanos in Infinity War it’s actually a relief that Ant-Man and The Wasp keeps its stakes personal, rather than galactic. Even so, it still makes sure to never undermine the gravity of what its heroes are fighting for.”
Rafer Guzman of Newsday:
“Ant-Man and the Wasp has its moments, but it doesn’t quite measure up to the original.”
Los Angeles Times’ Justin Chang:
“You might wish the whole movie had found a way to go quantum; you’ll certainly long for more Pfeiffer, who has too few scenes but invests each of them with her usual luminosity.”
Molly Freeman of Screen Rant:
“The movie balances exciting action, well-timed humor, and a heartfelt emotional storyline to great effect, letting the heroes shine in their own unique way while also tying the movie into the larger MCU.”
Empire’s Dan Jolin:
“There’s no getting away from the fact that Ant-Man And The Wasp, as fun as it is, lacks the sheer, mind-blowing heft of Infinity War. Or, for that matter, the scope and thematic muscle of Black Panther…in this new era of Marvel over-achievement, it really does feel like a lesser work.”
Anne Cohen of Refinery 29: “The script is snappy, and the jokes keep coming, making Ant-Man and the Wasp a healing balm after the dark ending of [April’s] Avengers: Infinity War.”
Michael Phillips of Chicago Tribune: “Rudd is such a friendly, likable presence; he sets this movie’s pace, while Lilly’s fiercely committed Hope/Wasp acts as the perfect counterweight. Rudd’s scenes with Lilly and with Fortson make the movie matter in human terms.”
Ant-Man and the Wasp will premiere in theaters nationwide on July 6th.