“A woefully unfunny mess.” Ant-Man and The Wasp critically savaged after first week of release

If Disney were hoping to put their best foot forward to kick off Phase Five of the MCU, the critical consensus thinks they’ve taken a misstep.
Benjamin Jackson
By Benjamin Jackson
15th Feb 2023, 5:13pm

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Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is the first film in MCU's Phase Five chapter (Credit: Marvel Studios)Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is the first film in MCU's Phase Five chapter (Credit: Marvel Studios)
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is the first film in MCU's Phase Five chapter (Credit: Marvel Studios)

While Marvel Cinematic Universe fans might be taking enjoyment with a case of schadenfreude over the current fandom drama with the DC Extended Universe, things are not quite as rosy in the MCU canon after the release of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.

Despite the series, featuring Paul Rudd and reluctant hero Scott Lang a.k.a Ant-Man, earning strong reviews during its first two entries, the same cannot be said for the latest installment, which officially kicks off Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Critical reviews have savaged the work, which currently sits on a rotten 52% rating on movie review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

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Some of the more choice comments from critics include Mashable calling the film “a chaotic, woefully unfunny mess that has forgotten why its hero was such fun” while the San Francisco Chronicle summed up the problem with the film: “Ant-Man” isn’t an example of bad comedy. It’s bad drama, bad science fiction, and a waste of everyone in it, including Evangeline Lily and Michael Douglas.”

Though there were some positive comments regarding Jonathan Major’s role, playing Kang The Conqueror - the villain who looks set to be the Thanos-level “big bad” in Phase Five of the MCU. One review for Attitude wrote that throughout the movie, “Michelle Pfeiffer and Jonathan Majors really shine despite a frustratingly uneven script.”

The film currently sits as the second worst reviews movie in the MCU, with Chloé Zhao’s 2021 effort, Eternals, still the worst-rated film in the franchise with 47%. However, as some internet fans are quick to point out, there is a disparity between critical reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and audience reviews on the website.

It means that despite the critical mauling and shaky first step in the latest phase of the ever-sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe, box office numbers and fan reception might completely change the perception so far of the film.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is in cinemas now.

Related topics:comedyCinemas

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