(M) ★★★
Director: Peyton Reed.
Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Katy O'Brian, Bill Murray, Corey Stoll.
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| "You're right - we're not in Kansas anymore. My guess is Utah." |
After such a great run, it’s been tough watching the MCU faltering.
Obviously "faltering" is relative. While I enjoyed Black Widow and Eternals, they were ultimately disappointing, and though I loved Thor: Love & Thunder and Dr Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, I can accept the criticisms aimed at them, and at the very least acknowledge they're not as good as their respective characters' previous films, despite my enjoyment of them.
That leaves Spider-man: No Way Home, Shang Chi and Wakanda Forever as the only genuinely great films in the past seven releases (and I'm leaving TV out of this discussion for the sake of simplicity).
Even taking into account this up-and-down strike rate, Quantumania is the best example so far of the cracks appearing in the foundations.
Again, having said that, it's not terrible. There are far worse superhero movies out there, and even worse MCU films. Quantumania is mildly enjoyable, though I wouldn't be rushing to rewatch it like I would with Spider-man: No Way Home, Shang Chi and Wakanda Forever, or even Thor: Love & Thunder and Dr Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.
(Even leaving aside my own critiques, four of the last seven MCU films are among the bottom seven MCU films by Rotten Tomatoes ratings, with the bottom three coming from the last six movies.)
Much like Eternals, Quantumania is an attempt to restart and move onto the next big thing in the MCU. But its eyes are too focused on the horizon, and not looking at the pot-holes directly in front of it.
Having helped save the world in Avengers: Endgame, Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man (Rudd) is living the good life. He's written a book, he's shacked up with Hope van Dyne AKA The Wasp (Lilly), and he's getting to spend quality time with his daughter Cassie (Newton).
Cassie's inquisitive and vaguely rebellious nature sees her following in "grandad" Hank Pym's (Douglas') footsteps and investigating the potential of the Quantum Realm. But something investigates back, dragging the Pym-Lang-van Dyne clan into the universe beneath our own, and threatening to unleash a horrific danger from Janet van Dyne's (Pfeiffer's) past.
Quantumania is very intent on setting up Kang (Majors) as its next Big Bad, and it does so effectively. But its the only character that gets any kind of development or journey throughout the film. Our heroes have no arcs and no relationships beyond a very basic parent-offspring level of interaction.
The plot itself isn’t bad - its basically of the "we're not in Kansas anymore" variety, except Dorothy and her friends have to stop the Wizard of Oz from leaving Oz too. But without any meaningful character progression or development, it’s just a series of hollow events surrounded by an almost overwhelming level of CG.
It does look amazing, to be fair. Reed leans into the idea that the Quantum Realm doesn't look like anything we've ever seen before, so it's suitably and impressively alien and otherworldly. It's also populated by empty vessels - characters serving as plot points - but at least these ones are occasionally amusing, with Dastmalchian's Veb a highlight.
But only Kang is truly interesting, because Majors and the script seem interested in him. He keeps his cards close to his chest, but he has levels to him, as well as drives and flaws. He's the highlight of the film, and at least his promised presence across the rest of the franchise bodes well.
Rudd's force of personality also makes it hard to hate this film. Ant-Man remains a reluctant yet awesome hero, which is largely due to Rudd, and that shouldn't be forgotten.
But only Kang is truly interesting, because Majors and the script seem interested in him. He keeps his cards close to his chest, but he has levels to him, as well as drives and flaws. He's the highlight of the film, and at least his promised presence across the rest of the franchise bodes well.
Rudd's force of personality also makes it hard to hate this film. Ant-Man remains a reluctant yet awesome hero, which is largely due to Rudd, and that shouldn't be forgotten.
But here he's surrounded by an almost-deafening sound and light show that lacks the wit and whimsy of his MCU debut. Quantumania swings big, but forgets the small stuff, to its own detriment.
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