Three perspectives on Ant-Man

How you react to this movie will depend a lot on how seriously you want to take it.  Consider these options.

1) Ant-Man as fun ride

With a brisk pace, a good sense of humor about itself, a competent cast, and a ton of action, the movie will entertain you and leave you happy you've given it a couple of hours of your life.

2) Ant-Man as an exercise in scientific stupidity

Nothing about this movie makes any sense.  The physics involved is laughable at every stage, and when the hero faces his greatest trap, he escapes with an obvious bit of scientific magic.  If you let your brain engage at all, you'll be enraged.

3) Ant-Man as purveyor of a trope we should kill

The movie's name and existence are predicated on a trope that does no one any good and that is actively insulting to women:  the qualified and competent woman trains the unqualified and incompetent man to do a job she should have had all along.  Evangeline Lilly should have starred in a Wasp film.


Which reaction was mine?

All three.

I had a genuinely good time watching it.  I enjoyed it a lot and came out happy.

I also had to never let myself think about the science or the fact that the movie should have starred Evangeline Lilly.  Afterward, I could not help but consider these flaws.  Sadly, they appear in so many movies that I find myself routinely accepting them, something which is also disturbing.

On balance, I recommend Ant-Man as a way to have a fun two hours, provided you're willing to put up with these huge flaws.