Discover the next phase of Marvel movies: “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”

Ant-Man may seem like an ironic choice to kick off the next phase of Marvel movies, but "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" successfully establishes Kang the Conqueror as a formidable villain. However, despite its plunge into the Quantum Realm, the film falls short in most other aspects. Its descent into inner space gives it more of a "Guardians of the Galaxy" feel, with an array of bizarre characters and murky production design. This shift is a departure from the original "Ant-Man" and its sequel, which relied on comedy and a more modestly scaled story. Although director Peyton Reed brings a similar sense of whimsy to the third installment, similarities to the franchise's 2015 debut are scarce.

On the other hand, "Quantumania" suffers from a case of gigantism, with Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly), her parents (Michelle Pfeiffer and Michael Douglas), and Scott's now-grown daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) all drawn into the Quantum Realm. The ensuing journey is a trippy experience, lacking much connection to recognizable reality. The only identifiable aspect is the hidden universe's struggle under the rule of a powerful being, Kang the Conqueror (played by Jonathan Majors), who is so feared that his name is hardly spoken, akin to Voldemort in Harry Potter.

Despite his appearance in Marvel's "Loki" TV series, Kang's level of threat in "Quantumania" is on par with Thanos, catching audiences off guard. Jonathan Majors portrays Kang with a quiet but palpable sense of menace and majesty, bringing gravitas to even the most challenging dialogue. As the next set of movies builds towards another Avengers-sized showdown, if Kang is the central antagonist, Majors is the standout element of "Quantumania" that audiences can hold onto.

One issue with the film's structure is the apparent mismatch between Kang's immense power and evil intentions and the hero-villain pairing. To put it in terms fitting with Majors' upcoming role in "Creed III," it's like asking a lightweight fighter to go up against a heavyweight who originally sparred with the Fantastic Four in the comics. Kang himself makes this point clear, openly sneering at Ant-Man and telling him, "You're out of your league."

Undoubtedly, the global pandemic significantly impacted Hollywood's theatrical landscape after Marvel's massive success with "Avengers: Endgame." Since that climactic event, the studio has not quite felt like a major player. However, with its focus on Kang, the third "Ant-Man" installment takes a necessary stride towards something larger, with the upcoming sequels of "Guardians" and "The Marvels" later this year. Nonetheless, it is merely a small step and, like much of Marvel's recent output, only accentuates the monumental shadow cast by "Endgame" in the rearview mirror.