Another science fiction failure is the latest Marvel movie, a franchise that peaked fighting Thanos but has struggled to find worthwhile foes since then.  Expansion into “the multi-verse” is a mistake (but will happen anyway; they have to make movies about something) so let’s go into the Quantum Realm.  As if we don’t have enough issues in our own world.

Peyton Reed’s adventure transports Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Scott’s daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) from our world into the Quantum Realm, a tiny but expansive little area where only a few movies ago humans did not exist (except for Janet, for some thirty years).  Now, though, there is an entire human culture, dominated by Kang (Jonathan Majors), who was exiled there and wants to escape to rule every universe.  Naturally, our intrepid heroes try to stop him.

Visually imaginative and quite kooky, the Quantum Realm functions much like Asgard or some of these other outlandish Marvel worlds where despots thrive and humanity is threatened.  The formula stays pretty much the same.  Kang must be defeated, at all costs, and teamwork is the only manner in which that can happen.  This one differs only in that it takes place right beneath our fingertips and features Bill Murray.

That isn’t to imply that the film has no merit.  It is imaginative; the visuals are far out; much comforting father-daughter bonding occurs; and I kind of get a kick out of the fact that the stars are mostly fifty and older, trying to appeal to an audience much younger.  It is science fiction (my favorite genre), but only barely so.  The performers are far more appealing than the material.  Why can’t these superheroes stick with our mostly real world?  ☆ ☆.  31 March 2023.