Ant-Man

Ant-Man may seem out of place when around the cool, well known, Avengers such as Iron Man, Captain America and Thor. A former thief, convict, ex-husband and loving father whose life is going nowhere is vastly different from the usual heroic stories. Yet, it's the differences in Scott and his alter-ego that make him a very likeable character and an even better hero for all the underdogs that deserve a second chance at life and even love. 

 

After being released from prison, former cat burglar, Scott Lang, wants to live a good legitimate life without crime. If for no other reason than for his daughter Cassie, whom he is forbidden to see due to custody arrangements. However, Scott's prison record is forever working against him and employment is becoming more difficult to find and hold down. Desperate for money, Scott agrees to go on a high scale heist with his roommate Luis. Yet, Scott gets a surprise when he comes across on odd looking motorcycle suit and techy helmet. Scott finds out that the suit can shrink to the size of an ant, but he also has intense agility and strength. From the moment he puts the suit on, everything Scott Lang knew and thought he knew changes forever.

The suit was created by former S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist, Hank Pym. A brilliant man who went undercover as the elusive Ant-Man, a legend or myth that who was never fully identified or confirmed to be real. Dr. Pym's engineering of the Atomic Relative Distance serum is revolutionary, but he's wary of whose hands he can put it into. Of all people to choose from, even his own daughter, Hope van Dyne, Hank feels that Scott Lang is the perfect man to wear the Ant-Man suit, without the desire for power and control, only to be reunited with his daughter. Something he knows a great deal about.

Hank and Hope needs Scott help to stop his former protégé, Darren Cross from mass marketing a dangerous shrinking suit that was made with Pym's technology. Scott gets a crash course in how to be the Ant-Man, communicate and control different breeds of ants and the dangers of manipulating the suit; this could cause the wearer to be launched into the subatomic quantum realm. Not to mention a full scale brawl with Sam Wilson (The Falcon) at the Avenger's Headquarters. Together, Scott, Hank and Hope, along with Scott's former burglar associates create a heist that was complete with explosions, giant Thomas trains and a trip to the quantum realm.

This movie was just all out fun! I love a good heist film and Ant-Man brought togethers all the elements of a full-scale heist. The characters are what made the movie though. Scott Lang is a very lovable hero, although a thief, he doesn't believe in violence. Most superheroes are single and childless, so to have a character that already has a child was very different, but good to see as well. His relationship with his daughter, Cassie, is the whole focus of his life

Hank Pym brought that wise mentor/loving father figure that is prominent in most Marvel films, but that he was also a father struggling with his own child made his character more palpable as well. Hope van Dyne was such a great character that I will forgive Marvel for giving her that terrible hairstyle! I loved her loyalty to her dad and how she eventually came around to accepting Scott as an associate and trusting her father's plan. Scott's rag-tag friends were absolutely hysterical and brought the typical Marvel humor to the story. 

I was not expecting Ant-Man to be as good as it was. Most Marvel films tend to focus on father/son relationships which are important, but it was good to see a story that dealt with father/daughter relationships too. Scott and Cassie's bond as a father who couldn't see his child, and Hank and Hope's bond as a father and daughter who were torn apart by tragedy resonates well. Hank understands what Scott is going through and wants to help be the father he knows he can be. That alone made the whole story worthwhile.