“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is Marvel’s newest feature film in their cinematic universe, first showing in theaters on Feb. 6, 2023. This film is the third installment in the Ant-Man franchise, following “Ant-Man” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp.”

Fans awaited this film with cautious optimism, hoping the film could break Marvel’s streak of content that has been met with broad disappointment. The film followed one of the MCU’s less iconic characters, Ant-Man, and many fans had grown tired of seeing the same superhero formula used repetitively in theaters. This, among other factors, resulted in a disappointing 70% drop in ticket sales relative to Ant-Man’s debut movie.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” set in early 2025, follows Paul Rudd’s character, Scott Lang, a witty and good-natured man given the heavy responsibility of being Ant-Man. After saving the world multiple times in the previous movies, Lang is excited to live as a successful writer and public figure. However, when Lang and his family are suddenly transported to the Quantum Realm, Lang is forced to try his best to help his family escape. 

The Quantum Realm is filled with dangerous creatures and people, but Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors, serves as the family’s biggest threat and main antagonist.

Despite the wacky premise, the movie refuses to stray far from the standard Marvel movie formula. Many fans of superhero movies will not struggle to predict the outcome of each event, which results in low stakes. It is difficult for the audience to invest themselves even when characters make bold choices, as many already know how each scene will play out.

On top of this, the visuals are lackluster. While passable, the CGI and visual effects of “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” are disappointing by Marvel standards. Because the film tries to attempt so many large battles and scenes that demand so much CGI, the visual effects department was bogged down by the sheer quantity of work. This, along with the hurried production, resulted in a rushed visual experience. 

The choreography was far too illogical and disorienting as well. Many scenes relied on frantic cuts and shaky cameras in an attempt to sell the idea of a fight rather than quality choreography. This issue is compounded by the poor use of Ant-Man’s shrinking power in battles. In the first movie, shrinking during a fight felt dynamic and unique, but in this film, the power felt stale as it served as an unstoppable way to win a fight. For an action film, the fights left something to be desired.

While the Ant-Man franchise is known for its comedy, the jokes often feel out of place. The film often attempts to portray an emotional scene, but constant quips from the main cast remove any tension.

Despite these shortcomings, the film still manages to deliver a fun and wholesome product that foreshadows the newest villains and heroes of future Marvel projects. Marvel fans will still find something to enjoy in the film, such as the familiar characters, bombastic soundtracks and clever references.