A look at the girl power factor in this wholly enjoyable sequel
I’ll always be grateful for Ant-Man. The 2015 movie came along during a time when Marvel fatigue was in full swing thanks to Age of Ultron and other summer releases such as San Andreas and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. which proved to be overblown letdowns. In came Ant-Man, providing laughs and unadulterated adventure in spades, while turning star Paul Rudd into a credible action movie hero. Three years later arrived the oft-delayed Ant-Man and the Wasp, carrying it with it enough ingredients from the first film, along with a larger dose of spectacle to ensure fans remained pleased; especially after the devastation that Infinity War ushered in.
There’s so much to love when it comes to Ant-Man and the Wasp, from virtually every minute Luis (Michael Pena) is on screen, to Dr. Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) crotchety persona, to the glorious effects used to create the mesmerizing quantum realm. Yet the heart of the movie can be found in the strength of its female characters. While most ladies in superhero movies are oftentimes forced to play cardboard cutouts of ACTUAL women, each one within Ant-Man and the Wasp carries with her an importance that cannot be dismissed.
In honor of the movie’s Blu-Ray release last month, here’s a tribute to the women of Ant-Man and the Wasp and the significance all of them bring to the screen.
Maggie Lang (Judy Greer)- Although she’s not really used much in the first Ant-Man beyond reminding Scott of how he messed up their life together, Maggie’s presence this time around is a joy even if it doesn’t add anything vital to the main story. Most of Maggie’s screen time here has her chastising the FBI agents whom she feels are harassing Scott during his house arrest. The scenes don’t really aim for anything beyond cute level, yet do carry deeper weight. There’s something so great about this woman standing up for her former husband, the father of her child, for no other reason that she cares about him. It may be the most “Disney” aspect of Ant-Man and the Wasp, but the image of Maggie as a supportive figure in Scott’s life who no longer holds him responsible for the past is refreshing and can’t help but tug at heartstrings.
Cassie Lang (Abby Ryder Fortson)- Even more supportive than Maggie is Cassie; Scott’s only daughter who remains her father’s greatest champion. Like Maggie, Cassie was little more than just a function in the first movie; namely the adorable youngster. Here though, Cassie’s presence serves a bigger purpose as Ant-Man and the Wasp finds her acting as her father’s confidant, and even psychologist. When Scott doubts whether or not he’s got what’s required of him to be Ant-Man, it’s Cassie who reminds him of his will, determination and conviction, giving him the belief in himself he needs. Fans of the comics already know that Cassie eventually follows in her father’s footsteps, becoming an Avenger in her own right. For now, though, she remains a young girl who considers her dad to be the ultimate hero, regardless of what suit he’s wearing.
Ava (Hannah-John Kamen)- Those not too familiar with Marvel would probably never have thought that one of its more heartbreaking villains would be found as part of the this particular saga. But that’s the best way to describe Ava (aka Ghost), Ant-Man and the Wasp’s central antagonist. A victim of a blast in a warehouse that completely reconfigured her molecules, allowing her to walk through doors and walls, Ava’s condition is slowly causing her to slowly disintegrate. The closer she gets to death, the more desperate Ava becomes at obtaining a certain kind of energy contained within the quantum realm that could save her life. Near the film’s end when she softly proclaims with tears in her eyes how much pain she is in, her physical struggle and her rapidly growing fears can’t help but be felt by the audience.
Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer)- The central force driving the main characters throughout Ant-Man and the Wasp is the quest to find Janet, who was thought lost forever in the quantum realm for some 30+ years until sending a signal through Scott, prompting a rescue mission. Although we don’t get to spend much time with Janet before the movie’s final act, her tenacity as a scientist and her courage as a superhero is more than acknowledged here, especially in the hugely sacrificial act which sends her into the quantum realm in the first place. Janet’s reputation and importance goes beyond being both the original Wasp and one of the founding members of the Avengers though. In one of the film’s most touching moments, Janet approaches the suffering Ava (shortly after the latter tried to destroy the former) and shows a surprisingly touching form of empathy towards her as she helps ease her pain, revealing her true essence and humanity.
Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly)- After proving a more than entrancing (and incredibly kick-ass) presence in the first Ant-Man, Hope’s status has been elevated to hero level as the newly-minted Wasp, taking over the title from the long-lost Janet and acting as equal counterpart to Scott. Hope is everything a Marvel fan could want in a female superhero; she’s smart, quick and possesses both a dry sense of humor and a playful streak when it comes to Scott. At the same time, Hope isn’t afraid to show her own vulnerability during the times when faced with the possibility that her mother may still be alive. The character has already made MCU history as the first female superhero to be featured in a Marvel movie’s title; and as her fearlessness here shows, it’s a distinction that’s deservedly earned.
With Ant-Man and the Wasp’s hugely game-changing post-credits scene leaving audiences breathless, and the overall state of the MCU in general, the fates and futures of all of the characters remains anyone’s guess. Talks of a third movie coupled with an assortment of theories flying around Avengers 4 show that the story of Ant-Man and the women surrounding him, seem far from over.
Ant-Man and the Wasp is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD from Marvel Studios.
