SMALL WONDER
‘Ant-Man’ is more than a little fun
‘Ant-man” is proof that pretty good things come in small packages. We’re not just talking physical size, either. This new, extremely lightweight but fun Marvel tale lacks the apocalyptic, bombastic, over fantastic quality that so many superhero movies have. But that helps it deliver goofy kicks without getting an enlarged sense of itself.
Paul Rudd stars as Scott Lang, a sweet San Francisco burglar who spent time in San Quentin. His anti-establishment ways and thieving skills attract the attention of Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), an aging scientist (and ex S.H.I.E.L.D. operative) who needs someone to break into his lab.
Pym must retrieve the “Pym Particle,” a shrinking formula he created. It “reduces the distance between atoms,” if you must know, and needs to be out of the hands of his evil former underling, Darren Cross (Corey Stoll). Pym’s daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) works with Cross, but she’s on her dad’s side.
Pym recruits Lang to wear a suit Pym himself once donned to become ... Ant-Man! Now able to zoom down to the size of a dime (yet still deliver a big punch), Lang can get in and out of tight spots. Oh, and he can control an army of ants by the use of radio waves that translate his thoughts into insect-speak. But Cross, who dons his own shrinking costume, the Yellowjacket, won’t be defied. “The Avengers” this ain’t. But that’s part of the point. (Lang even suggests they call that Marvel supergroup, which will soon include Ant-Man.) Most heroic adventures have a stereotypical “first use of new powers” montage; the version here shows Lang stumbling around a bathtub and getting sucked up into a vacuum cleaner. Eventually he gets the hang of things. And so does director Peyton Reed’s quirky heist-comedy adventure.
Because of his easygoing comedy persona, Rudd is a perfect choice — and another bit of savvy Marvel casting. He never takes things seriously, but seems invested in the emotional side of the story. His costume recalls a 1950s alien toy, or a Jules Verne-esque underwater explorer.
Douglas lends a wry note, Stoll has a great sneer, and Lilly provides a grownup sexiness for this kid-friendly lark. The shrinking effects and ant army are cool as well.
Reed keeps his protagonist zipping from big to small to keep things peppy. It works, though the overall feel is like a retro TV series, or a tasty dessert after the usual inflated superhero buffets.
jneumaier@nydailynews.com