Paul Rudd may not be Hollywood’s go-to leading man when it comes to action films, but he definitely pulls through in the all new “Ant-Man.”
“Ant-Man” stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, T.I., Wood Harris, Judy Greer, David Dastmalchin and Michael Douglas. Directed by Peyton Reed, Marvel’s “Ant Man” picks up where “Avengers: Age of Ultron” left off and follow the story of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a thief turned unlikely hero. The seemingly average Scott Lang, with his above average intelligence, steals the “Ant-Man” suit from Dr. Hank Pym, unaware of the power it possesses. With the suit Scott is able to shrink in size while maximizing his strength and with Pym’s guidance he virtually saves the world. Not only did Paul Rudd play the film’s protagonist, he contributed to the screenplay as well.
“Ant-Man” has such an incredibly fast-paced storyline that if you blink you might just miss something. The dialogue is hilarious, especially when the characters make jokes about other Marvel characters like Iron Man. Scott Lang’s laid-back attitude and nonchalant manner with which he faces challenges well suited Rudd’s natural demeanor and even as a thief, Rudd’s charisma shines through. The spontaneity with which Scott Lang is thrown into the superhero world is authentic in that the audience not only sees the character take on a new role, but sees Paul Rudd in a new light as well. Although, Scott Lang seems un-heroic because of his petty crimes, Paul Rudd seems atypical for this role since he’s most recognized for his role in comedies, yet the overlap is uncanny. The character seems as if it were written for Paul Rudd, which might have to do with his role behind-the scenes. Scott Lang’s cliche goofy sidekicks add a light-hearted element in the midst of chaos and while the film definitely plays on stereotypes it seeks to show the multi-faceted nature of Michael Peña’s character Luis by giving him high-brow interests. Overall the film is enjoyable and Paul Rudd succeeds in being the authentic unlikely hero.
-Nishat Baig
