I have never read an Ant-Man comic. I had heard of the comic, but I had not even seen a copy of it. So, just like with Big Hero 6, I had no expectations or preconceived notions of what to expect with the film. As with Big Hero 6, I was not disappointed.

Scott Lang has just gotten out of prison for burglary, and he doesn’t want to go back. He is having a bit of trouble getting stable employment because of his criminal past, and he is getting frustrated because he wants to become stable enough to be involved in his daughter’s life again.

Not helping matters is his former cell mate, Luis, who is encouraging him to help him on a new burglary job. After losing his job, he gives in and helps his friend with the burglary, only to find out he was set up. Dr. Hank Pym then recruits him to steal something from his own company, Pym Technologies.

I really liked Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, and Evangeline Lilly in their Ant-Man roles as Scott, Dr. Pym, and Hope (respectively). This casting was spot-on, and these actors brought a believability to the roles that is sometimes lacking in superhero films (in Green Hornet and The Dark Knight Rises, for example). Darren Cross, played by Corey Stoll, was an excellent evil counterpoint to Robin Hood-esque Scott Lang. I really enjoyed the cameo by Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and Howard Stark (John Slattery).

The story was very good and very well paced. I especially loved how Scott is shown as a good person who made some big mistakes in his life, but still wants to be a good person and just given a chance to do the right thing. That Dr. Pym recognizes this, and Hope slowly learns to accept it, is a big part of the film, and it sends a good message that everyone needs a second chance at some point.

The music by Christophe Beck worked very well in Ant-Man and didn’t interfere at all with the flow of the story. The score is mostly new, but incorporates some themes from The Avengers and Captain America – The Winter Soldier. The only song not included in the soundtrack release was “Plainsong” by The Cure.

The special effects really stood out in this film. A fair amount of time was spent from the perspective of 1-inch-tall Ant-Man, and the ants created by Luma Pictures and Method Studios were, quite simply, awesome. Even though the ant characters were only very minor characters (you might say they had really small parts), a couple of them exhibited quite a lot of personality. The special effects teams should definitely be commended for top-notch work.

I really enjoyed Ant-Man. It is one of my favorites in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If you haven’t seen it yet, definitely try to find it in theaters. As with all the good superhero movies, it is very memorable and rewatchable. I highly recommend it.

Release Date: July 17, 2015 (USA)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Language: English

MySF Rating: Four point five stars
Family Friendliness: 100%

Content:

Alcohol/Drugs: 1 (some social drinking)
Language: 2 (mostly minor, some deity, occasional stronger)
Nudity: 0
Sexuality: 1 (some innuendo, adult situations)
Violence: 3 (frequent fighting, explosions, death, science fiction violence)