Paul Rudd takes up the mantle of Ant-Man, and Scott Lang, once again in Marvel’s latest film. Ant-Man and the Wasp. The story picks up right after Captain America: Civil War and before Avengers: Age of Ultron with Scott on house arrest, paying the price for helping Captain America. Scott is once again thrust into the world of superheroes, despite being under house arrest, in an attempt by Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to rescue Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) who is trapped in the Quantum Realm.

Marvel Studios is just beginning to understand what they can accomplish with the vast comic book universe. Avengers: Age of Ultron proves that they can take risks both visually and plot-wise. So, is Ant-Man and the Wasp a safe move to make after such a catalyst?

The answer is yes. With Ant-Man and the Wasp, Marvel Studios can still bring in the laughter and action-packed superheroes that audiences love without the consequences of the latest Avengers film.

The plot of Ant-Man and the Wasp, though it expands necessary side superheroes like the Wasp, it doesn’t have the substance that other Marvel films have accomplished. It follows the formula of a typical story that takes away all of the surprise out of the ending. The one thing it does capitalize on and really succeeds with is the relationship between Scott and his daughter Cassie. It’s the familial relationships that the characters have that makes them stand out from the rest of the superheroes. Instead of just being known for action or quippy remarks, although there are plenty of those, Ant-Man and Wasp emphasize a type of humanity that isn’t seen in any other superhero movie. Making Ant-Man and the Wasp not only touching to watch but also makes the characters, in a way, more relatable than Ironman or Captain America.

In the first Ant-Man film, the dynamic between Cassie and Scott brought laughs and a few wholesome moments to a genre that has never really seen a father-daughter relationship. Ant-Man and the Wasp also touches upon Cassie and Scott’s relationship, and also further develops the theme of a father-daughter connection through Hope and Hank Pym. Where its predecessor focused on Scott trying to be there for Cassie, Ant-Man and the Wasp shows how being a superhero can complicate life, especially when you have children. This aspect isn’t only reflected in Scott and Cassie’s relationship, but also with the Pym family.

Ant-Man and the Wasp does succeed in making it an entertaining romp from beginning, middle and end. The action is still there but is more contained and enjoyable to watch than some of the previous Marvel movies. I think a lot of this can be contributed to the type of power that Ant-Man and Wasp have. Their ability to change their size at will is not only visually stunning at times, but makes the fight scenes run smoother in a way that other superheroes lack. The Wasp and Ant-Man zip and flow through fight scenes changing the size of themselves and objects around them.

The new villain, Ghost, is also very compelling to watch as she phases in and out of the corporeal world. Some might see her as a disappointing villain with the likes of Thanos to compete with now; however, the development of Ghost is a quiet catalyst of Marvel showing the gray lines that separate villain from superhero and how sometimes the good guys aren’t so good.

For fans of the first film, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a must see movie because it brings back all the elements of Ant-Man and makes them even better. The humor that made the first so successful is there and Paul Rudd pulls it off perfectly, while the action-packed sequences Marvel has mastered are beautifully paired with Ant-Man and Wasp’s abilities.

Though it might not standout in contrast to some of the bigger movies in Marvel right now, Ant-Man and the Wasp is still a good, fun superhero movie packed full of heartwarming moments and chilling villains.

3 Os out of 5