Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) has a secret. Years ago, while trapped in the Quantum Realm, she was seconds away from helping a fellow refugee escape, only to discover his plans of multiverse conquest/destruction. So she sabotaged his ship and spent the rest of her time before rescue attempting to lead an insurrection to contain his power. Then, in the present day, her step-granddaughter, Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), creates a beacon to map the Quantum Realm, accidentally broadcasting their location. Janet must protect her family by ensuring Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) doesn't escape once and for all. Oh, and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) is there, too.
Almost every review I read of Quantumania called it a misstep for the MCU, the worst film yet, proof that Marvel is out of ideas, blah blah blah. The movie is perfectly fine as a piece of entertainment. It's funny, the pacing is good, the acting is good, visual effects are good. Ant-Man remains one of the most lovable Avengers and that's fucking saying something. I wasn't a huge fan of the voiceover narration bookends but otherwise Rudd is fine.
But the MCU has no idea what to do with female leads. This was Janet and Cassie's story. If they wanted to make Scott think he was the protagonist, like Daniel Day-Lewis in The Age of Innocence, that could have worked. This should have been (and I suppose it still kind of does function as) a launch point for Cassie Lang to take over as Ant-Woman? -Girl? -Person? The Ant? Whatever. She's going to be in the Thunderbolts movie to let Paul Rudd retire his character. (Internet says Ant-Girl, Stature, and Stinger depending on which comic.)
Jonathan Majors continues to be the greatest gift Loki gave us. (Aside from Crocki.) He is phenomenal here and I can't wait to see him chew all the scenery as his variants.
Quantumania is currently only in theaters but will be on Disney+ in probably four months.
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