Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Spoiler-Free Review
Before I went to see Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, I heard how people hated it on Rotten Tomatoes and social media. They said it was the second-worst MCU film after Eternals, it didn’t make sense, and lacked the heart of earlier Marvel films. They were…partially right. Despite the whole film’s silly premise and execution, Quantumania isn’t a bad movie. Far from it; it’s very fun to watch. However, I might be giving it some leeway because this movie will set up something bigger in hindsight. Something that, if done right, could make Infinity War and Endgame look like child’s play.
So, Quantumania sets us up for a big conflict in the MCU going forward. And Johnathan Majors’ delivers on that premise flawlessly.
Scott Lang Finna Live His Best Life, But his Daughter Doesn’t Approve
After everything he’s been through, all the bullying and unfair treatment he has gotten out of life, Scott Lang’s finally living the life he’s always wanted. Everybody respects him as one of the guys who helped save the universe; he’s going steady with Hope Van Dyne, and he’s written a best-selling autobiography. Life couldn’t be any better for Scott. There’s just one problem: his daughter, Cassie.
Cassie’s taken several pages from her dad’s book, enough to make him concerned. Firstly, she’s been learning everything she can about Pym Particles and how to access the Quantum Realm for herself. Secondly, she’s using said Pym Particles to try and do good but keeps getting arrested. The reason she’s acting out isn’t that she wants attention from her dad, though. It’s because she’s frustrated that Scott’s not living up to the heroic example he’s set for her. All of that changes, though, when the Lang-Pym-Van Dyne family gets a message from the Quantum Realm and gets sucked into it. Thus, Quantumania begins.
The Quantum Realm is…Actually Pretty Cool.
One of the major complaints I’ve heard about Quantumania is the exhaustive use of CGI. I understand that people are sick of movies that use it to the point that it becomes an eyesore. However, I want to point out that sometimes, it’s a necessity. In this case, creating a subatomic universe with flora, fauna, and creatures unlike anything we find on Earth justifies this.
Once you get past the extensive CGI use (and it shows), the Quantum Realm is cool. As the Lang’s and Pyms make their own separate journeys through the Quantum Realm, they see things straight out of a sci-fi show. Flying manta rays that transport people through the air, a ship mentally controlled by one’s thoughts via these weird arm controls. Or a giant-headed man in a hover-chair that looks like they cut and paste someone’s head.
No, really. This film gives us M.O.D.O.K., one of the goofier-looking villains Marvel has, and he looks laughably bad. I couldn’t take him seriously whenever he appeared onscreen, and it was easily the funniest and worst part of the film.
The best part, though, is reserved for Kang.
Kang is the Satanic Archetype, and he is Glorious.
A lot of complaints about the MCU have been how it lacks direction since Endgame. Without Thanos, there’s no big bad to guide the story forward. All those naysayers can quiet now because Johnathan Majors can take it from here. Kang the Conqueror is here, and he’s the best part of Quantumania.
While fans have already met one of his variants in Loki, Quantumania marks the official introduction of one of the deadliest enemies Marvel has. Johnathan Majors draws people in whenever he’s onscreen as the time-traveling menace, which is equivalent to the Devil in this film. A well-spoken, powerful, and charming figure exiled by the rest of his kind into a realm he longs to escape from? That’s the Devil, and Kang is, appropriately, terrifying. Janet Van Dyne has a personal history with Kang, and is horrified about his plans to escape the Quantum Realm and conquer everything he sees. While his own ego prevents him from living up to his full potential, this is for the best. Otherwise, Scott and his family wouldn’t have survived this film.
This is Only the Beginning
Since the finale of Endgame, the MCU’s devoted its time and energy to building up the Multiverse and its many possibilities. In addition to offering more chances to tell stories, it has been to prepare audiences for Kang. While I won’t say what happens to him, the film does end with Scott plagued by his warnings of something worse than him coming: himself.
If you read my post about him, you know what I’m talking about. Kang is the OG Rick Sanchez, but unlike the drunken nihilistic scientist, Kang actively seeks to conquer and rule the Multiverse. And there are thousands of versions of him out there, and none of them are happy about the heroes of the MCU meddling in their affairs. In other words, Marvel’s setting us up for an all-out war between the Avengers and the Kangs, and Quantumania was the first shot that could start it.
I know the MCU has yet to be what it was at the height of the Infinity Saga, but Marvel’s still Marvel, and Quantumania teases us up for many big things. Besides the promise of Kang becoming a menace to the heroes, this film also sees Scott’s daughter, Cassie, become a superhero in her own right. At last, the main roster of the Young Avengers is in the MCU, and all that’s left is for a certain young man to kickstart things. As for Quantumania, hindsight will have fans look upon this movie better than the critics do now.
