Movie review: Paul Rudd takes ‘Ant-Man’ to superhero status

What It’s About

Paul Rudd isn’t your typical superhero action star. And that’s one of many refreshing aspects of “Ant-Man,” a lighthearted adventure in the Marvel Comics universe that doesn’t take itself so seriously.

Along the lines of the jocular “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Ant-Man” mixes humor in with the good vs. evil sci-fi scenario. Rudd and funnyman Adam McKay are given screenwriting credits along with creators Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish.

Innovative scientist Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) changed molecular structure in an experiment years ago. Others may think he’s irrelevant, but Pym is still clever and cagey, and doesn’t want to see his enemies triumph. So he mentors an unlikely hero. Sparing the techno mumbo-jumbo, thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) shrinks even smaller in stature but increases in strength when he dons this super-duper suit.

As Ant-Man, he can help thwart the power-mad Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), whose alter-ego is nefarious Yellow Jacket, determined to double-cross Pym and rule the world.

Performances

Rudd, the king of the bromance movies (“I Love You, Man”) who still makes time for indies, is an enormously popular actor. He lends his comic skills and immense likability to the Scott Lang/Ant-Man character, and it’s a sure bet that he’ll don the suit again. He successfully straddles both worlds. He’s not so much a con-man as he is the Robin Hood against corporate greed, so his good-guy image doesn’t take a hit.

Douglas is credible as the august Pym. Evangeline Lilly (“Lost”) as his daughter is rather bland, hidden behind a severe bob — do all strident career women have to be depicted so harshly?

Corey Stoll (“House of Cards”) makes for an imposing villain.

What Works

Rudd’s agility with the material goes a long way in making this movie an enjoyable spectacle. You have your usual sci-fi danger and big-budget explosions.

The computer-generated graphic images are fairly seamless, and its use is very heavy in this movie, quite obvious with the armies of ants.

What Doesn’t Work

You might get lost if you know nothing about the backstory. But it’s easy to pick up, as the plot isn’t very dense.

There is so much saturation these days of all the Marvel characters that it seems they are going for worldwide domination in the superhero movie market, and that familiarity can start to feel same-old, same-old.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 8:33 AM with the headline "Movie review: Paul Rudd takes ‘Ant-Man’ to superhero status."