Avengers: Infinity War ended on what can only be described as a punch to the gut with an oversized golden glove decorated with gems of unimaginable powers of destruction. So, while we wait for hope and joy to return next May with Avengers 4, it is an absolute kindness for Marvel to treat us to a short, Summer reprieve. Ant-Man and the Wasp is the distraction we MCU fans need to forget Thanos and finger snaps for a couple hours, and just enjoy watching two mini-supers drive around in Hot Wheels.

“You can do anything. You’re the world’s greatest grandma.”

Ant-Man and the Wasp picks up two years after the events of Civil War, just before the events of Infinity War. Yes, you can already see where this is going. Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is paying for his role in Captain America’s unrepentant rampage of destruction (just sign the fucking Accords, Steve!), eagerly awaiting the final day of his house arrest. He is soon contacted by Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), after a distressing dream about the quantum realm. Meanwhile, a new foe arrives in the form of Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), a murderous thief who seems to possess quantum abilities of her own.

Ant-Man was certainly a sleeper hit for Marvel, a real gamble considering his lack of mainstream popularity in the modern age. But Paul Rudd and director Peyton Reed delivered a fresh, fun take on the character, that ended up bringing a lot of new fans to the classic hero. Ant-Man and the Wasp builds on that good will, and delivers good laughs, clever action sequences, and a pretty decent story. Its biggest success was keeping the stakes relatively small. Just like the first film, this isn’t a man who can shrink somehow saving the world from a giant sky-beam. It’s a couple of scientists, and their thieving lackey trying to stop a killer, and maybe even saved a loved one. It’s a small story for small heroes. It tries to juggle a a couple extra subplots that come off as a bit superfluous, even though they’re handled with relative grace. Still, it remains a nice palette cleanser after the emotional clobbering of Infinity War.

“Well, the 60s were fun but now I’m paying for it.”

Of course, the timeline being what it is, and only one more MCU scheduled before Avengers 4, AatW  does snap us back to reality. And honestly, even its two stingers being relatively short, they both manage to evoke a sudden sense of lingering dread. A perfect setup for what’s to come.

Ant-Man and the Wasp isn’t the best flick Marvel put out this year, surely. It’s a bit of fluff to keep us from giving in to despair, but it’s fun, well-crafted fluff. It’s a cut above its predecessor for sure, and a solid entry into the MCU. And its ending raises a few good questions about where Ant-Man’s role will come into play in Avengers 4.

This Guy Scores It: 7.5/10