Cinema: New cinema: "Ant-Man And The Wasp" – new challenges for the insect-man

by Matthias von Viereck, dpa

When the ant crawled for the first time on movie screens three years ago, it was like a miracle cure for the superhero genre. "Ant-Man", based on a comic book published in 1962 in a magazine published by the American publishing house Marvel, was funny and cheeky, self-deprecating and also inspired by an almost childish delight in size differences. The objects were narrowed and enlarged, sometimes the man of the ant was huge, sometimes not even bigger than an insect.

The ant man took himself less seriously than most of the great superheroes of the batman's punch. "Ant-Man" was just fun and was then with a global box office of $ 519 million also a great success. Now comes a sequel to the cinemas. Re-directed by Peyton Reed, again with Paul Rudd in the lead role. And Michael Douglas is back.

Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, was under house arrest for two years for his two years in Germany alongside a part of the super team Avengers Heroes (See: "The First Avenger: Civil War"). The inner peace with which he is quickly finished, as Lang is overtaken by the past. His mentor Hank Pym (Douglas) sends Lang on a mission that is nothing less than the great love of Pym, his once lost in the so-called quantum level Miss Janet.

Ant-Man receives support from Pym's pretty daughter, Hope aka The Wasp. Already in the first "Ant-Man", the two were close together, now continuing the romance between the ant and the winged superheroine (Evangeline Lilly) on. The two mingle with a terrorist named Ava – a ghostly creature who is one of the most sinister appearances of superhero cinema in recent years.

Ant-Man is still the most playful and probably the most ironic superhero active in the cinema. In this sequel, he proves it again and again. In a wonderful series of scenes, we see how the ant man, when he is alone again at home, sells his time: with unhealthy food, bad movies and, most importantly, playing drums. So, like a 15-year-old Pennäler who is happy that the parents finally left on weekends.

Wonderful also the many moments that Paul Rudd shows with his film daughter (still played by Abby Ryder Fortson): the hide-and-seek, in the many magic tricks that the "Ant-Man" acquired during his long house arrest. So this time, it's less gadgets, even if pretty and familiar, the enlargements and reductions that characterize the film. And rather family moments sometimes moving, sometimes turbulent.

Cross References to Avengers

Finally, all fans of "Ant-Man" know why it was "Avengers: Infinity War" (which almost started in April) all known Marvel heroes gathered on the canvas) could not be there: he was probably still sitting at home to punish him. Cross-references of this genre, from film to movie, are a good part of the Marvel world's appeal.

Again, there is one or two (albeit a nice wink) about how it could happen in endless superheroes. universe. If it is a shame, which is not familiar with all the special knowledge and insights about American superheroes, you can expect an adventure as lively as it is funny. Featuring two equally eloquent and equally elegant artist legends: Michael Douglas and, a successful surprise, Michelle Pfeiffer