Ant-Man

— The least expensive Marvel Studios production to date is pleasantly different from the rest and I like this kind of quirky, more human side of the Marvel universe. I don’t like it as much as the exceptional “Guardians of the Galaxy”, but it still is a nice surprise, probably because there’s some decent low-key humor and Paul Rudd is a lot easier to identify with than most of the bulked-up Marvel crowd. Besides, I’m partial to “normal” characters whose powers come from science and technology instead of from their lineage. The first third of the film is a little slower paced as it sets the stage and introduces the characters, but once it gets going, it ably moves the weird premise forward, and at the same time links it within the Marvel universe. All the while, it doesn’t even have to venture into the Stratosphere to tell the story, although the sub-atomic level isn’t out of reach. In the end, it’s a pretty decent heist flick! I don’t think it’ll match the popularity of many of the other Marvel films but, with a lower production cost, it doesn’t have to to be successful.

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[2015. 117 min. Directed by Peyton Reed. Starring Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, and Evangeline Lilly.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ant-man-2015