Film Review - Ant-Man

 

Tiny Action Hero

Film: Ant-man

Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly

Directed by: Peyton Reed

Duration: 1 hr 57 mins

Rating: * * * 

Superhero films have reached a point of saturation. Firstly, there has been a plethora of super hero films in the last few years since studios have realized that it is a relatively easy way to make money. But worse, they all pretty much follow the same formula of crash, boom bang with the hero managing to save the day just in the nick of time.

Cashing on the success of such films, Marvel has introduced Ant-man, one of the less popular characters but a super hero all the same.  For a large part, Ant-man appears to be run of the mill stuff – the lead character has personal issues, family issues till he gets a chance to redeem himself. The last quarter of the film, especially the climax is the saving grace. 

Paul Rudd plays Scott Lang, a small time burglar who is separated from his wife and daughter. Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) a scientist has made a breakthrough invention that could change the world. For fear of it falling in the wrong hands, he doesn’t go the distance. But the bad guy (Corey Stoll) running the corporation does. 

As it has been happened since the days of The Seven Samurai, small time crooks are used to fight the more evil ones. Dr. Pym recruits Scott to be Ant-man, a super hero with a suit who can vanish, become really tiny (like Honey I Shrunk The Kids) and also command an army of ants. Dr. Pym’s daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) lends them support during the fight with the villain who like other villains, is aspiring to become the most powerful man in the world. 

Given that Ant-man can become really tiny, gives the director a lot of scope to work around in terms of the visuals. A fight scene atop Thomas the train is very well choreographed and it is only towards the end the film comes into its element. 

Establishing the characters has been a major issue with recent super hero films, they all have been walking on the road much travelled. Mercifully, the tone of Ant-man is on the lighter side with jokes coming in every now and then. 

To be fair, it hits a few roadblocks but delivers the goods in the end. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 26th July 2015

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Film Review - Last Vegas

For Old Times Sake

Film: Last Vegas

Cast: Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline

Directed by: Jon Turtletaub

Duration: 1 hr 45 mins

Rating: * * 1 / 2

Last Vegas is a film that sails through only and only because it has a set of actors whom we’ve loved watching over the years. Replace them with a younger cast and there will be nothing to write home about as far as this film is concerned because the story is no great shakes.

A bunch of guys, four to be precise have grown up being best friends. Now in their 60’s, they all have their own problems to deal with. Archie (Morgan Freeman) who has a few health issues lives with his over caring and married son. Paddy (De Niro) has become a lonesome man after the death of his wife and there were some issues between him and their other friend Billy (Michael Douglas), a successful man who is all set to marry a woman who is in her early 30’s. That leaves Sam (Kevin Kline) who has knee problems not to mention his titanium hip but also has a carte blanche from his to do anything in Vegas.

All four of them head to Vegas for Billy’s bachelor party and while they are looking for a good time, the ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ type, couple of them fall for a charming singer Diana (Mary Steenburgen) bringing back memories of the past.

While there are some funny lines on the whole the script never rises above the ordinary. But what keeps the film going is the charm and the chemistry of the four actors. Even when there is the odd dull moment they manage to steer the boat clear. 

There is no clear standout performance as far as these four actors of considerable repute are concerned; they all have their moments in the film. They make this otherwise average film watchable. 

Published in the Navhind Times on 15th Dec 2013

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