*Spoilers will be discussed*
Keep going only if you watched the movie
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has just opened its gates (already?!), after that one heck of a bumpy ride we experienced in Avengers: Infinity War. Surely, a few slight adjustments are necessary in order to keep up with the main characters and their perplexing size-changing process. If you were to ask for my opinion, adaptability and patience would be the main pillars to which you have to hold on. And brace yourselves since you’re about to witness some modern Alice in Wonderland magic through baffling tech rather than straightforward labels with Eat me or Drink me. But don’t fret, this world brought at a smaller, sillier scale will make your heart bigger and merrier.
I’m just going to cut to the chase, after I had left the theatre, I kept repeating to myself that I loved Ant-Man and the Wasp to bits. While my sister and my cousin were considering a movie marathon (so as to re-embrace the good old days of Marvel), I couldn’t help but think of the featured futuristic elements and the film’s role of carrying on the bittersweet suspense. On my way home, I also recalled the movie’s Real Heroes, Not Actual Size promo which I have constantly encountered for the past few weeks. That was when the striking question Who are the heroes after all? got stuck into my head. Because yes, Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang (Ant-Man) and Evangeline Lilly’s Hope Van Dyne (The Wasp) are not the only characters who deserve praise for their powers. Each individual should be seen as a hero. And here’s why.
Minor Identity Crisis and Major Awareness
Scott Lang repetitively shifts from a trustworthy father to a responsible superhero. The latter can already be questionable since Scott has been on a 2-year house arrest because of his alliance with the Avengers in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. This refuge could be seen as a huge benefit though, as it brought up Ant-Man’s creative side and tightened the relationship with his daughter, Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson). The movie starts off on a cheerful note, with the father and the little girl staging a dramatic but heartwarming heist indoors.
However, just a few days before his official release, Scott is expected to help Hope and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) find Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the mother and wife of the lovable duo. Despite being fugitives (also because of their indirect association with the Avengers), Hope and her father have worked immensely to accomplish their biggest dream and bring back Janet from the quantum realm (after the unfortunate incident from 30 years ago).
Scott would have never been involved in the operation if he hadn’t had a weird, yet significant dream from Janet’s perspective. His own short trip into the depths of the quantum world (as seen in the first movie with Ant-Man) provided the highly essential mental connection with Mrs. Van Dyne. Thus, he’s the only one who can offer more information on Janet’s precise location.
As much as Scott tries to hide his worries behind some light sarcasm, you can still detect a lack of certainty about his main requirements. Cassie is actually the one who dispels his fears and subtly reminds him that he’s an innate hero. Scott may be a person who gets into trouble, admittedly, but he still has the best intentions. Does the press have to shockingly claim you’re a superhero when your own daughter sees you as role model and offers you a trophy with World’s Best Grandma written on it? I don’t think so.
It’s about damn time
Damn right it is! Hope’s final words in the post-credits scene of 2015’s Ant-Man came up with several layers. First of all, the phrase addressed her personal goals, her lifelong desire to bring her family together. Moving forward, it also announced her upcoming performance under the spotlight, given that she had been living under her father’s shadow most of the time. This particular point also hinted at the absence of female heroes in Marvel movies.
Hope’s change is noticeable and I’m not just talking about her hairstyle transition. She is a bold and fierce figure. She can handle situations better. She showcases an undeniable determination. She gained Hank’s trust to become the Wasp, just like her mother. But there are occasionally narrow signs of weakness (more exactly whenever Scott steps in with an ironic remark or a smart observation). On the internet, I came across a few people who were not pleased with Hope’s overall presence in the movie. They believed she was still a frail character, having Scott by her side. From my point of view, this partnership highlights her heroic side, as a matter of fact. She undoubtedly questions whether she needs Scott in her life. But that’s when love spreads even more in her soul. Love has driven her to do the impossible and search for her mother, and her developing appreciation for Scott empowers her to be even braver. Come to think of it, aren’t feelings the source of our heroic acts?
Persistent Stubbornness in an aura of Abundant Softness
Dr. Hank Pym has often been described as a headstrong person who would push aside useless partners and be more preoccupied with his own ideals. Some might agree with this mentality and set of actions, some might display boundless hatred towards him. For me, Hank is the perfect example that loads can be achieved and invented if you’re focused on your utmost dreams. He has always known what to do, how to act and who to trust till the end. He’s both a survivor and a fighter in the overwhelming society. And don’t try to fool yourself by saying that Hank has a heart mostly made out of stone; it would only be a laughing matter since for the past two years, he has been building a special tunnel to enter the quantum realm in order to reunite with his wife. Have you got a counter-argument for that? I’ll be waiting.
No Miss Understood but rather a Misunderstood Ghost
At long last, here comes my favorite part. I absolutely loved the enigmatic Ghost – also known as Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen) – who leaves you wondering what the heck you’ve just witnessed. A quick search and I instantly found out that the Ghost was actually a male anti-hero figure in the Iron Man comics. Bonus points for converting genders and also creating a character of color. But there’s more. Initially, Ava gives you the impression that she’s one cool villain who can go through walls, take you completely by surprise and vanish when you least expect it. But afterwards, her troubled past is brought to light and second doubts occur.
Ava’s father, Elihas Starr, and Hank used to work together, but one day they got into a serious quarrel and went on separate paths. This pushed Elihas to experiment with the quantum realm all by himself. He never truly considered that he would be heading straight to doom. Soon, a young Ava is showcased, sitting next to her dead parents, after a massive accident involving the quantum world. The little girl is nothing but an innocent bystander, and yet perhaps she had to pay a bigger price than her parents. Ava’s survival comes with a curse: because of her exposure to the explosion, her cells continuously divide and fuse back together, making her phase in and out of reality. Living in-between two dimensions may sound tempting, but no one is fully aware of the girl’s torturing existence.
Her uncovered past and the amount of broken promises she had to get over made me realize that Ava rightfully deserves to be called the hero(ine). She is no regular character. The chronic pain eats up her entire life and you can sense both determination and suffering in her eyes and exasperated voice. With little time left until she dies, Ava is desperate to get a hold of Hank and Hope’s tech. She strongly believes that Janet’s energy can heal her forever, therefore she endures plenty of challenges just to have the tunnel to the quantum realm connected to her special chamber.
Eventually the Ghost receives the help she needs, just not how she quite expected. Janet’s glorious comeback definitely had to be even more impactful. When she returns to the real world with Hank, Janet spots the unsettled Ava. She doesn’t confront her physically. Instead she immediately points out that she feels the pain inside the girl. The following moments are purely magical. The benevolent woman places her hands on Ava’s head and, in a matter of seconds, she heals the struggling character by permanently bonding the cells and grounding the entire body in one reality. You accompany Ava’s bewilderment with your sigh of relief.
Indeed, this is the expected happy ending. However, a Marvel fan will stick around till the post-credits scene... and experience a complete shock. The audience sees the entire Van Dyne family sending Scott into the quantum realm, in order to extract some particles of energy and help their Ghost friend. As soon as Ant-Man is supposed to return, he loses connection with his fellow partners. The radio silence alarms both you and Scott, then the point of view goes back to the real world. Ash floats around the place where Hank, Janet and Hope have been left standing. This is a heart-ripping connection to the ending of Avengers: Infinity War (you really thought you could forget it, didn’t you?). Looking back, I’m somehow disappointed that nobody caught my reaction on camera. I was by far much more frustrated than I had been a few months ago, while observing Thanos’ cruel decisions. The dark tone was already set in his movie (I doubt there were many people hopeful enough to root for a rather positive finale), whereas, in the case of Ant-Man and the Wasp, the ending does surprise you in a dreadful way (now what in the world is going to happen with Scott?!).
Putting my thoughts into order, I guess I’ve realized why I loved the movie a lot. The main characters give you hope and warm up your heart. The tradition to create a humane side in the (so-called) villain was not neglected. The incredible atomic energy Janet has absorbed for the past 30 years will encourage you to believe that the quantum realm possesses a potential cure for diseases of all sorts. Who knows, for a split second you might have the craving to become a scientist and provide help for people all over the world. Ah, yes, it’s been quite a while since I last saw an enjoyable sequel.
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