Thursday, July 16, 2015

Paul Rudd Plays Latest Superhero in 'Ant-Man'


By Darlene Donloe

If you’re looking for a fun-filled, laugh-out-loud family film to see this weekend, you don’t have to look any further than Ant-Man, Marvel comics’ latest entry into an already crowded superhero field.  The film opens nationwide on Friday, July 17.

There is something adorable, personable, warm and fuzzy and downright hilarious about Paul Rudd, who stars as the superhero.

The film is literally a hoot and a holla. Rudd plays Scott Lang, a not so tough ex-con who can’t find a job. Eventually he takes a job at a fast food establishment in an effort to pay child-support payments. He lives in a tiny, rundown apartment with his talkative former cellmate, Luis (Michael Pena), who is high-larious!

But the money gets funny and the change is strange when Lang loses his job. So, reluctantly he agrees to join Luis on one last illegal job, breaking into the home of Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), a reclusive tech millionaire who once battled wrongdoers as a size-altering, insect-controlling superhero named Ant-Man.

What? Yep!

Before he knows it, Lang gets caught up in a plan to help Pym and his semi-estranged daughter, Hope (Evangeline Lilly), break into the headquarters of the company Pym founded in order to prevent former protégé Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), also known as Yellowjacket, from re-creating the Ant-Man shrinking suit and mass-producing it as a weapon.  The suit allows him to shrink, have superhuman strength and control an army of ants.

What? Yep!

Hilarity ensues when Lang has to learn how to shrink himself quickly and bounce back to normal size.  

The witty repartee between Lang and Luis is hysterical, especially with Lang’s deadpan expressions. Rudd’s and Pena’s comedic timing is priceless!

Ant-Man is smart enough not to take itself seriously. It’s a great popcorn movie.  It’s fun from start to finish. The special effects are vivid and entertaining.

Director Peyton Reed’s film may not do massive numbers ala Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy numbers last summer, but it will probably pull in more than decent numbers. No, it’s not flawless, but who needs flawless?

I’ll take comedy and adventure over flawless any day. I look forward to Ant-Man 2!

Ant-Man, directed by Peyton Reed, stars Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, Evangeline Lilly, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer and Corey Stoll.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), Ant-Man gets an E (excellent).


Ant-Man is Rated PG-13; Running time: 1h 57m

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