'Ant-Man' Features Fun Visuals But a Mediocre Story

Rating: 7/10 (21 July 2015)

Even if Ant-Man doesn't aspire to be much more than your typical Marvel release, the film does mark some significant steps forward for the universe in which these heroes live. When one of the Avengers does appear midway through the film, it actually happens in a surprising way, culminating in a standout sequence that could indirectly lead to at least 2 new heroes joining the roster down the line, while serving as a slick bridge between Avengers: Age of Ultron and next year's Captain America: Civil War. Kudos to Marvel for banking on one of their riskiest projects yet, but Ant-Man still falls prey to the studio's formulaic trappings and – aside from those exhilarating shrinking scenes – feels like a remix of the first Iron Man, Ocean's Eleven and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. It's a fun ride buoyed by some clever action beats and Paul Rudd's natural charm, but the conclusion of Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe doesn't exactly pack the same decisive punch as its Phase One closer, The Avengers.
For the full review, visit my site.