This year was another successful year for Marvel Studios. By now it seems like the Disney-owned property can do no wrong.  As expected, THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON  was a tremendous success at the box office. But another very good Marvel release this year was more low-key, and had a moderate successful run in theatres: ANT MAN. This film marked the debut of yet another longtime superhero. Created by the venerable comic book legend Stan Lee, as well as Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby, Ant Man first appeared in comic books in 1962. Given the continued success of Marvel superhero movies, it was just a matter of time before the insect-sized superhero made the jump to the big screen. The result is yet another enjoyable, fresh cinematic adventure. Just like CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER combined genres by embracing the spy thriller, ANT MAN is both a superhero movie and a heist movie. And it’s also a comedy.

Directed by Peyton Reed, the film stars Paul Rudd as the titular hero, Michael Douglas as his mentor Hank Pym,  and Corey Stoll as the villainous Darren Cross, who eventually becomes the supervillain Yellowjacket. The movie has a slow build-up, taking its time to explain the science behind the shrinking abilities, and contains various nice set pieces where Scott Lang AKA Ant Man learns how to use his abilities. As Lang shrinks to the size of a tiny insect, courtesy of his state-of-the-art suit, a bathtub suddenly becomes a vast metallic wasteland where a massive waterfall is coming down, accompanied by a rushing torrent akin to a tsunami. As Ant Man encounters a rat, the rodent is to him the size of a monster straight out of a Godzilla movie or Lord of the Rings. The ants become his friends as Lang learns to control their actions with his mind. He can even ride them, including a winged ant which becomes his favorite mount to get around quickly from one place to another.

Pathos and sentimentality are provided in the film courtesy of Scott Lang’s little daughter, who lives with her mother and whose dad---whom she loves and admires---has spent years in prison because of his previous occupation as a cat burglar. Lang, who is recruited by Pym to don the superhero suit precisely because of his ability to break into tight places and crack safes, decides to become Ant Man because he wants to be a better role model for his daughter. His mission is to steal the powerful Yellowjacket shrinking suit created by Pym’s former protégé Darren Cross, which Pym is worried will be used for evil purposes. The action scenes include a skirmish with one of the Avengers, Falcon, who makes a short cameo appearance, and culminate to the big fight with Darren Cross in his Yellowjacket suit. This brawl eventually takes place in Lang’s daughter’s bedroom, of all places, and involves some breathtaking sequences on a moving toy train set (yes, you read correctly).

The film, as I’ve mentioned, includes a lot of humor and some snappy dialogue. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and often veers towards outright comedy. It is witty and innovative, and somehow manages to breathe some new life into the typical superhero plot of good versus evil, and superpowered hyjinks. It makes for a perfect popcorn movie, and fun for the whole family. Highly recommended.

ANT MAN came to Blu-ray and DVD on December 8^th.