Marvel and it’s MCU ushers in the New Year with the Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania, and it’s a film that has a lot riding on it, given that it introduces Kang the Conqueror - a super-villain who we’ll be seeing a lot of in the MCU installments to come. As such, the billion dollar question is whether a strong enough foundation is being set to evoke fan interest, if not outright frenzy, for this new evolving MCU Phase 5.

And to be honest, I would have to go back to December 2021, and Spiderman: No Way Home, to recall a Marvel superhero film that truly sparked my interest and made me feel that all was well with the M-Universe. If we include the MCU output on Disney+, I’ll concede that I immensely enjoyed She-Hulk Attorney at Law, except for the last episode; but it was for reasons that had it deviating from the kind of superhero films we regularly associate with the MCU.

For the MCU ‘big’ films, the formula has always been blending superhero action and special effects world-building, with soap opera-level sentiment, and a dash of loopy humor. The film installments would vary the mix, and if we think back to the first Ant-Man, it was especially heavy on the humor and sentiment (father-daughter relationship), and succeeded precisely because it was a ‘smaller’ kind of film outing - like a version of Marvel Lite.

This new Quantumania starts off on a comfortable footing, with Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) reminiscing about his role in the Thanos Snap, and with self-deprecating humor, relaying his experiences as a new superhero. It’s all cute to the max, and unfortunately, doesn’t last too long. In practically no time at all, we’re whisked to the Quantum Realm when daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) sends signals to this world in hope of mapping it. Alarm bells start ringing for Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank (Michael Douglas); and the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) is just as concerned.

In what looks like a feeble attempt to do it a la Star Wars or Avatar, we are then taken on a tour of the Quantum Realm, where hostile tribes, smugglers, new aliens, and yes, cantinas, abound. And of course, we’re then introduced to Kang (Jonathan Majors).

No spoilers here, but yes, Kang is a formidable villain, one that’s complex, and with hidden motives - and it is a better than average set-up for this villainous ego, who is destined to be the new Thanos.

It’s more how when we’re stuck in the Realm that we really feel stuck, that I’d gripe about this film, and how un-involving it all is. What nuggets of humor or sentiment that are produced, seem more like afterthoughts and a rote manner of complying with the formula. It’s all serviceable and there are bright spots; but by and large, I was left disinterested, and that’s not a good thing.

There are two end credits scenes that actually foretell something of significance, and hold hope for the MCU. Initial reports are encouraging for this film’s box office success; but I wouldn’t rate it anywhere near No Way Home. Giving an Ant-Man film so much gravitas may have been required, but it does take away from the original enjoyment we would get from this particular superhero and his films.