The reviews for upcoming Marvel blockbuster Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania have dropped, and they’re not good. The superhero sequel is set to hit cinemas on Friday (February 17), and critics’ reviews have already come flooding in online.
The film will kickstart the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) hotly anticipated Phase 5 and introduce the franchise’s next major villain post Avengers: Endgame. Its official synopsis reads: “Super-Hero partners Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp.
“Together, with Hope’s parents Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.”
READ MORE: Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania – release date, cast and everything you need to know
Ant-Man star Paul Rudd returns for the third instalment of the trilogy, with Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer also reprising their roles from the previous films. Making his MCU feature debut is Jonathan Majors as villain Kang the Conqueror, who arrives to shake up the future of the franchise.
Unfortunately, the film has received some not-so-promising reviews ahead of its release later this week. It currently holds a ‘rotten’ 53 percent score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes after 145 reviews.
A film is deemed rotten after earning a score below 60 percent. This marks just the second time an MCU film has received a rotten score, following 2021’s Eternals which currently sits at 47 percent.
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In comparison, Marvel’s previous blockbuster, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, boasts a Certified Fresh 84 percent score. The first Ant-Man film has an 83 percent score, while its sequel Ant-Man and The Wasp sits at 87 percent.
Quantumania’s CGI appears to be the biggest problem, with one critic slamming it as “shockingly poor.” Despite apparent issues with its visuals and tone, the film’s cast has been cited as “one of the best casts in a Marvel film,“ with particular praise given to Marvel newcomer Majors.
Mashable’s Kristy Puchko said: “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.”
Whynow’s Maria Lattila echoed: “Visually, the film is messy and flat; the CGI is shockingly poor and the action looks muddled. At least Quantumania has one of the best casts in a Marvel film.”
MovieWeb’s Julian Roman added: “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.”
Little White Lies critic Jake Cole simply said: “The post-Endgame MCU continues to be a slog.”
It should be noted, however, that critic scores tend to be lower than audience scores – especially for superhero films – so Quantumania’s rotten rating could change following its release. Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is released in cinemas across the UK on Friday, February 17.
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