Paul Rudd brings his Everyman/Funnyman humor and humanity to the Marvel Universe in “Ant-Man,” a formulaic comic-book thriller enlivened, a bit, by his engaging lead performance.It’s yet another “origin myth” within Stan Lee’s empire, and much of its nearly two hours is overwhelmed with the tedious touchstones of such movies — how “Ant-Man” came to be “Ant-Man.” But a lively, silly opening and a deft and daft finale rescue it from all its Avengers/Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. back-engineering.
Rudd is Scott Lang, whom we meet the day he gets out of prison. A likable lunk with an advanced degree but a long “cat burglar” rap sheet, he falls in with his old cell-mate (Michael Pena, hilarious). And that’s how he comes to meet Professor Pym, inventor of the “Pym Particle” and a fellow who had a serious falling out with Tony Stark’s dad, back in the day. He’s played by Michael Douglas.
Pym’s particle reduces the distance between atoms, maintaining density as it does. The upshot? A guy can shrink to ant-size, retaining his relative strength and throw-weight. That will be handy if Pym wants to tear his company from the clutches of his evil protege, Dr. Cross, given some lip-smacking gravitas by Corey Stoll (“House of Cards,” “Glass Chin”).
Scott’s solution to Pym’s problem?
“I think we should call The Avengers!”
Evangeline Lilly is Pym’s daughter, Hope, all bangs and generic “adult in the room” lines.
“Do you think this is a joke?”
During the many scenes where Scott has to train with an army of carpenter ants, bullet ants, “crazy” ants and fire ants, not so much. But entrusting this to director Peyton Reed, known only for comedies (“The Break-Up”) occasionally pays dividends. Pena’s scenes where he relates, in convoluted flashbacks, how he learned about this potential heist or made that connection, are narrated by the actors in those flashbacks in Pena’s manic Hispanic-accent. But Rudd’s wry way with a line is put to little use, despite the half-dozen or so writers brought in to joke up the script.
This is mostly special effects — a digitally shrunken guy in the Ant-Man suit running and playing with ants — and Marvel Universe housekeeping, fitting this story in with the larger one of next generation Avengers.
Whatever its cheerful B-movie charms, “Ant-Man” never feels like it can play with the big boys. We’re drifting into the comic book B-list, and nearing that long-anticipated moment of comic book movie overkill. Rudd or no Rudd, without the goofball finale, “Ant-Man” would be the runt of Marvel’s ever-growing litter.
