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Marvel seems to be hitting major strides lately, with one blockbuster film after another. Even though each film is its own entity, audiences can’t help but compare, and that is where Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) just comes out small.

The sequel to the 2015 Ant-Man film begins as Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is wrapping up his time under house arrest as punishment for his enormous contribution with the Avengers. The FBI have warned him to stay away from any of his previous associates, or risk spending 20 years in jail. Accordingly, he passes the time entertaining his 10-year-old daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson) with imaginary in-door adventures.  But soon enough Lang is dragged back into his old life when genius Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) need his help in rescuing Hope’s lost mother from the quantum realm. With several villains after Pym’s technology, and the FBI after Lang, matters get messy. 

The film’s plot is straightforward, yet simultaneously messy; the characters’ goals are clear, but the obstacles standing in their way aren’t. There are several villains in this film: a ghost-like mutant, Pym’s ex-partner, a southern technology black market tradesman, and the FBI. What makes it even more confusing is that each of these people have different motives for doing what they do, and most of them are eventually portrayed to be not so evil after all. So, in the rush of the 115-minute film, the audience did not really get to understand their motives, like them, nor hate them. It just felt like the characters were crammed together, and there wasn’t enough on-screen time to truly develop any of these antagonists.

The action scenes in the film were just bonkers, with cars shrinking and expanding mid-chase. However, Ant-Man and the Wasp’s true strong suit is in the humour, which is constantly flowing from Paul Rudd. This element truly gave the film life. Another major comedic addition was Michael Peña playing Lang’s ex-cellmate and current business partner. The relationship between Lang and his daughter Cassie was also a plus for the film, adding a needed heartwarming feeling.

As for the acting, Paul Rudd did well in the comedy, the fatherhood, as well as the action. The dynamic between Rudd and Evangeline Lilly was where the acting fell short. Like Rudd’s, Lilly’s action scenes were spot on and her dynamic with her father was good, but her chemistry with Rudd just sunk the film. Michael Douglas and Abby Ryder Fortson did a very good job in the film and fulfilled their required roles.

With low stakes and a messy plot, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a whole lot of fun but it isn’t among Marvel’s giants. That being said, it is a fun family friendly movie.