Ant-Man

Initially I'll admit I did think Marvel were scraping the bottom of the proverbial barrel when they announced that the long gestated Ant-Man would finally get a release (what next a Falcon standalone movie?!) and I let out a particularly loud groan when they announced that Paul Rudd would play the the lead (would he work in an action film?) I'm very happy to say that I've been proved wrong in every way possible and will gladly eat my portion of humble pie whilst writing this review.

Ant-Man is great and although this counts as the final stage of Marvel's Phase Two it actually stands as the best origin-story Marvel film yet (and I'm including Spider-Man here as well).

It's the perfect combination of humour and action and links nicely with the other films in the universe. Rudd is excellent in the titular role and brings his charisma and likeability to the part of a thief who just wants to be able to spend time with his daughter (cliched but effective.)

The effects are fantastic, the first shrink is a real showcase for the power of IMAX but the subsequent small scenes lack the immediacy of the first and are a little fast-paced, not allowing for the same level of detail and panic as that first one. The plot is a little formulaic and very predictable but it keeps up the tension and pace until the end, there are nice links to the rest of the Marvel-verse (including a close encounter with an Avenger) and two end credit sequences promising a sequel and an entry into the next Avengers film. Ant-Man is here to stay and, with the exception of the main four, he'll be the biggest draw for me going into Phase Three; not bad for someone so small.

4 stars ****