Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania Is Being Panned By Critics
Bigger isn't always better, and by the sounds of it, neither is smaller. The first reviews are in for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as the first movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 5 is being pulled apart by critics.
15 years after Iron Man kickstarted the world's highest-grossing franchise, we're entering a new "dynasty," with the introduction of Jonathan Majors' Kang the Conqueror. Couple the blue-tinted villain with Paul Rudd's fan-favourite Ant-Man means we should be onto a winner. However, that might not be the case.
What Have The Critics Said About Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania?
Click to enlargeAs the reviews trickle in for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, it's earned an unfortunate place in MCU lineage. At the time of writing, Peyton Reed's threequel has a paltry 52% on Rotten Tomatoes.
This means it's officially declared "rotten" on the site, making Quantumania only the second movie in the MCU's 31-movie catalogue to get that dubious honour. The other was Chloé Zhao's Eternals from 2021.
The critics' score is 52% based on 141 reviews, which is tumbling by the hour. Alongside being bombarded with a deluge of CGI, the main complaint is that Ant-Man has lost the comedy that gave his previous movies their fun.
Deadline's Pete Hammond concludes: "I have to confess I am getting quite sick of the sorcerer-style flashy and fiery effects so many of these comic book movies revel in. Mix it up next time, guys."
Click to enlarge
Mashable's Kristy Puchko writes: "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a chaotic, woefully unfunny mess that has forgotten why its hero was such fun. The thrill isn't just gone, it's been buried beneath a swarm of plot contrivances and truly hideous CGI."
MovieWeb's Julian Roman says: "Quantumania throws every can of paint in the garage at the screen while struggling with tone and convincing character dynamics. Jonathan Majors is an absolute beast as Kang the Conqueror. The MCU's Phase Five starts on uneven footing."
Polygon's Susana Polo adds: "Quantumania ultimately serves neither Ant-Man nor Kang by pitting them against each other, going for big and small at the same time. The thing is, if you’re big from one perspective and small from another, you’re just normal-sized. And that’s the last thing an Ant-Man should be."
What's Next For The MCU?
Click to enlarge
At least there's almost universal praise for Jonathan Major's Kang. That's pretty good news considering he's supposed to be the franchise's next Thanos - and will lead the next two Avengers movies for The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars.
We're in a new phase, and like has become commonplace with the MCU's cookie-cutter formula, expect to see more of Majors before we get to the next ensemble. Who knows when Kang will pop up again, but remembering the end of Loki Season 1, there's a chance Majors could return for the upcoming Season 2.
Up next on the theatrical slate, there's James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which will round off the trilogy and promises to be one of the saddest MCU movies yet. Hopefully, it'll do a little better than Quantumania.
We need to remember Quantumania hasn't been released to the public yet - and according to Deadline - is poised for an Ant-Man franchise-best opening weekend. Sometimes, casual fans can be kinder than critics, so let's wait and see how Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania fares when it releases on February 17.