Antastic fun!

Rating: 8/10 (22 January 2016)

Directed by Peyton Reed, Ant-Man is an origin story about Scott Lang (Paul Rudd); a reformed ex-convict who is trying to put his old ways behind him to become a part of his daughter's life once more. Struggling to find work, he reluctantly crosses paths with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), a scientific genius who has invented a revolutionary suit. Granting the wearer the ability to shrink to the size of an ant, it also makes them 50 times stronger.
Training alongside Pym's daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly), it takes Scott some time to master the suit, leading to some comical mishaps. What follows is essentially a heist movie, proving once more that Marvel can explore different genres while maintaining a cohesive universe.
Shrinking audiences down to a whole new level opens up a new playground of creative opportunities; one that hasn't been properly exploited since Honey I Shrunk The Kids. It'll also add a new dimension to future Avengers films, as everyone will seem like giants in comparison.
Ant-Man lacks an emotional punch of the likes of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, with the tone being kept lighthearted throughout. It also felt like Yellow Jacket; the villain of the piece, could have been given more to do before the inevitable final showdown.
Audiences are advised to wait until the end of the credits, for some of the best bonus scenes yet.
Marvel has successfully established another exciting character into their growing cinematic universe. Rudd is a charismatic and likable lead, with Douglas and Lilly in great supporting roles. Antastic fun!