REVIEW: ANT-MAN & THE WASP - QUANTUMANIA

3.5/5

Quantum Leap. 

124 Mins. Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, David Dastmalchian, Katy O'Brian, William Jackson Harper, Corey Stoll, Bill Murray, Michelle Pfeiffer & Michael Douglas. Director: Peyton Reed. 

"I didn't do it!" Bart Simpson became as famous as his catapult, skateboard and those shorts that he dared you to eat on 'The Simpsons' for that immortal line he read like those he wrote on the blackboard before school was out. But then one overexposed day, everyone had enough and his 15 minutes of fame were over (yeah right, you tell that to 700 plus episodes and counting. Don't have a cow man). The same could be critically claimed for the comic churning of the Marvel machine. With cape fear giving over to both cinematic Scorsese superhero and multiverse fatigue. Despite the madness that was a real Spider-Man meme, the nostalgia of Michael Keaton's Batman saving 'The Flash' from itself and the epic 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' and its hero Michelle Yeoh about to save the day at the Oscars. Coming up leaps and bounds, the trilogy making 'Quantumania' of the 'Ant-Man and The Wasp' movie is a giant one. Even if the multiverse world it delivers like a Thor realm (and a great God of Thunder gag) is as small as the speck of salt you wash your popcorn hands of. 

Critics and popular consensus want to stamp on this Ant and go splat, man. Like an attack of the killer Rotten Tomatoes score. Yet, despite this not carrying the leaf all the way, it's still more epic than the 'Eternals' (which we love, by the way). And certainly doesn't deserve all the hate like the fun, festival filled 'Doctor Strange' and 'Thor' sequels. Just like the seriously good shows 'She Hulk' and 'Ms. Marvel' especially don't in turn. One minute everyone wants to be woke, the next they sleep on a superhero franchise that makes heroes out of everybody. But we're still chanting 'Wakanda Forever'. 

Complaints, even Sinatra faced a few to be Frank. And just like the Great American songbook, the great comic one is consistent and classic. If you want it your way, then you best head to Burger King. Because this is Baskin-Robbins (whose stock must soar with every movie, even this Winter) and they always find out. Even if we now need a milk carton for Michael Peña's much missed story so far catch up. Not to mention rapper T.I. Although cult favourite David Dastmalchian is back as another slimy character (no plot holes) with the greatest run since Kermit. M.C.U. Employee of the Month, Paul Rudd still wins us over. One of the world's most popular and ever-likeable actors like Keanu Reeves and Brendan Fraser. Two who need their own Marvel movie like cult heroes Jeff Goldblum and Bill Murray (with a classy cameo that feels chopped here after the 'Ghostbusters' legend was lost in some troubling news). Rudd's Scott-Lang has his own book that you can actually buy ('Look Out For The Other Guy') like his 'Anchorman' Ron Burgundy ('Let Me Off At The Top'). And he brings incorruptible courage and breaking heart. Not to mention more variants than a "look at us" viral video that literally turn him into ants. All for the best Marvel cinematic moment since the universes Jake Gyllenhaal's Mysterio made play in Spidey's mind, 'No Way Home'. 

Sting this all you want, but Evangeline Lilly's Wasp character is not lost on us, especially in a new hazard yellow and black, fitting suit. Speaking of which, Kathryn Newton comes in as a replacing Cassie with her own one. A Stinger (uncredited) in the tail, hitting home to the heart of what matters here. Even the originals still buzz. Michael Douglas once famously told us in 'Wall Street' that, "greed was good." And here, after at first being about as presence as those brick phones with cords, his Hank Pym brings a colony to this alien ant farm. But back to Keaton, if he can still play as Batman in all these multiverses than it's time to bring back Michelle Pfeiffer's legendary Catwoman back too. Because her show-stealing Wasp is sharper than any claw. 

She was in this quantum realm for a long time and there she met a bad even bigger than the Shaq lookalike that was Thanos in purple and gold. Jonathan Majors' Kang just makes everything click. After his low-key, 'Loki' definitive debut it's his dynasty now. And this Majors talent looks set to conquer the box-office this month, let alone the year, playing the villain. About to be a knockout in 'Creed III' as both Ant-Man and the Apollo kid and 'Rocky' protégé face their most formidable foe yet. But between Katy O'Brian's fearless freedom fighter ('The Mandalorian' star recast after 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D') and the 'Spy x Family' like hilarious mind of 'The Good Place's' William Jackson Harper, if you want more villainy how about donning a yellow jacket? Yeah, you saw the giant Easter egg helmet in 'Loki'. Corey Stoll is back as M.O.D.O.K. of all killing machines. Now, the Hulu of Patton Oswalt may be our giant head and tiny baby legs, but Stoll is stellar like the gold masked meccanoid adaptation. But when the helmet hilariously lifts for that big reveal, we can't tell if the jokes on us, or if Marvel really need to pay their digital effects team for overtime.

All in all, 'Ant-Man and The Wasp' may not be the jam we were hoping to start Phase Five with a boom, but 'Quantumania' is no spoilt picnic either. Sure this Peyton Reed powerhouse looking to pack a wallop may leave you wondering what Edgar Wright if. But fans have been thinking that since the first fun film and fondly silly sequel. Thanks to Kang and what's to come, this sequel remains super for your quantum of solace. But it's time to look out for the little guy again. Down the crawling yellow brick road like Elton, we want to get antsy as much as we thank the arachnid. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Ant-Man', 'Ant-Man & The Wasp', 'Loki - Season 1'.