REVIEW: Ant-Man: The Robin Hood of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

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(Rating: 12A, 117 mins) Written by Zen Terrelonge

Starring – Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily, Corey Stoll.

If Guardians of the Galaxy is Marvel’s answer to Star Wars, then Ant-Man is the Robin Hood of the MCU.

Before we get into that though, my limited knowledge of Ant-Man extends only as far as his turn with The Avengers in the animated films, but it’s probably safe to assume that’s more than the average cinema-goer.

Indeed, my friend, someone who has followed all of Marvel’s films to date, had no knowledge of the superhero and little desire to see him on the big screen.

The Ant-Man in said cartoons was 30-something Dr Hank Pym – a brilliant, albeit foul-tempered and arrogant, scientist. It was he who created and donned the Ant-Man suit, which provides him the means to shrink, acquire super-strength – ants are the bodybuilders of the insect world don’t cha know – and command his bug brethren.

For the purpose of the big screen debut though, Pym (Douglas) is older, wiser and retired, acting as a mentor to thief Scott Lang (Rudd) who eventually becomes the titular hero.

An Ant-tastic triumph for Marvel as it seamlessly continues to grow its silver screen presence.

The film opens in the past during the early S.H.I.E.L.D days, which is when Pym realised his tech would be catastrophic in the wrong hands. As such, he’s outraged to find his colleagues had attempted to replicate the formula behind his back and swiftly departs the organisation.

Fast forward to the present day and we’re in prison, the first place we get to meet Scott – a man incarcerated for his legendary cat burglary skills, a questionable career path for a man with a child and an electrical engineering degree.

There’s a very Robin Hood quality to Scott, an unlikely hero who’s only ever robbed the rich to feed the poor – and occasionally himself.

I was curious to see how Rudd would tackle the role of a superhero, given his aptitude for comedy of the deadpan variety, and he creates something of a medley between that and a man-child – not entirely unlike Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord.

“You’re a superhero, Scott” “I’m a what?” “A superhero, and a thumping good’un I’d wager!”

Having served his sentence, Scott vows to leave his life of crime in the past and that’s where he meets Pym, who is in need of his very particular set of skills.

Like Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury in Avengers Assemble, Pym is made “very desperate” by his former protege and deranged CEO of Pym Technologies – think Stark Industries – Darren Cross (played excellently by Stoll). In ownership of more more cold calculated crazy than both Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham combined, Cross draws increasingly closer to replicating the Ant-Man formula in a bid to mass produce it for use in war.

With the help of his daughter Hope – the fiery Maid Marian of this tale – Pym trains Scott for the field to hilarious effect, resulting in a very welcome and unexpected cameo from a familiar face.

Feeling lucky? Free IMAX tickets to see Marvel’s Ant-Man, starring Paul Rudd, hidden across UK cities

Visually, the effects are truly unique and offer yet another peek into the ever-expanding MCU. The ant-sized perspective of Scott is a breath of fresh air and provides the opportunity to make more versatile, ambitious and outlandish action scenes than ever before, offering excitement and comedy in equal doses. Meanwhile, the bond he develops with the ants is done so well that you’ll even feel something of a connection to them yourself.

“Let’s pick it up guys, we’ve got to look beach body ready”

Like all good heroes though, a sidekick is required, and Scott happens to have three of them – ants not included. Indeed, his sticky-fingered friends join the crusade alongside Pym and Hope, effectively allowing the criminal cohort to serve as a band of Merry Men and provide a level of comic relief that aspires to rival Guardians of the Galaxy in the LOL stakes.

While it isn’t quite as spectacular as Guardians – the backdrop is San Francisco, not outer space – it’s certainly an Ant-tastic triumph for Marvel and ties in nicely to the ongoing saga ahead of the next batch of films due out next year, with several Easter eggs dropped in throughout.

Just make sure you stay until the end of the credits – the very end, for there is more than one sting in this tale…

8/10

Ant-Man is in cinemas across the UK from 17th July.

Photo Credit: Zade Rosenthal © Marvel 2014