The fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has now come to an end, and the fifth is set to kick off with the film Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania. Unfortunately, it appears that the shortcomings of the fourth phase, including a lack of cohesion between installments, are likely to be repeated in the fifth, as it is starting on a less-than-inspiring note.
Paul Rudd's Ant-Man has been laying low since the events of Avengers: Endgame, but his daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) has been stealthily working with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope Van Dyne/the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) on a project to map the Quantum Realm from afar. When Michelle Pfeiffer's Janet discovers this, she's none too pleased—but before the dust can settle, the entire group is yanked into the Quantum Realm and must now figure out how to make their way back home, all the while fending off Jonathan Majors' villainous Kang, who seeks to use them as a means to escape the Quantum Realm himself.
Right from the very start of the movie, this haphazard approach to storytelling is emblematic of the MCU's approach. It's implied that Kang is the one responsible for Ant-Man and his friends being sucked into the Quantum Realm, but it's never clarified nor explained - it just happened and the audience is expected not to think twice about it. This is hugely frustrating, not least because it renders Jonathan Majors' performance completely wasted. Kang is a character who should be a bit of a mystery, and Quantumania initially looks as if it might explore this, but the mask slips and it's revealed that all he really wants is revenge on those who put him in the Quantum Realm. This lacklustre arc is a disappointment, not just because it fails to make the most of Majors' performance, but also because it's such a generic plotline and a far cry from the likes of Thanos.
Peyton Reed's two Ant-Man films have been a much-needed breath of fresh air, filled with visual gags of continually-shifting size, oodles of Silver Age silliness, and a general feeling of adoration for the source material. As many of their contemporaries come off as self-important, Reed's films have been a charming reminder of the fun and lightheartedness that superhero films can provide. But this time, not so much. It's boring and messy.
Quantumania is by far the worst installment of the whole cinematic universe. It’s not particularly humorous, the action is lacking in innovation, the storytelling is lacking in quality, the CGI is nothing special, and the performances are adequate with the exception of Majors. This movie is so bad, it will eat your soul.
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