Tag Archives: Michelle Pfeiffer

Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly in Ant-Man and the Wasp

Ant-Man and the Wasp

You could tell from the trailer that Ant-Man and the Wasp wasn’t intended to be a particularly serious movie. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a particularly funny one, either.

Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope Van Dyne/Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) briefly open a tunnel into the quantum realm. Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) magically receives a message from Janet Van Dyne/original Wasp (Michelle Pfeiffer) that’s she’s still alive after all these years in the quantum realm. Then it’s a relentless series of size jokes and feds acting like Keystone Cops. The whole thing is very one-dimensional and mostly falls flat. Oh, there’s also an antagonist named Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) who meanders in and out and mostly exists to give Ant-Man and Wasp someone to fight with. Walton Goggins shows up and plays pretty much the same guy he always plays.

I must give some credit to Michael Peña as Luis. He’s not given much to work with, but he manages to be pretty funny, nevertheless. He’s clearly the best part of any scene he’s in. Abby Ryder Fortson also does nice work as Ant-Man’s daughter, Cassie.

Paul Rudd and Abby Ryder Fortson in Ant-Man and the Wasp. IMDb.com.

Paul Rudd and Abby Ryder Fortson. IMDb.com.

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Kenneth Branagh Delivers a Tepid Remake of Murder on the Orient Express

Another week, another remake. Kenneth Branagh both directs and stars in the latest adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. Based on the novel published in 1934, this film, like many works in the mystery genre, relies on a series of wild logical leaps, critical information pulled out of nowhere when the plot requires it, evidence that would never stand up in court, and the tendency of suspects to blurt out confessions at the drop of a hat. The story has been kicking around for over 80 years and has been subjected to numerous adaptations, so no one is likely to be surprised by the outcome. The question for a film like this is: Do the actors and director tell the familiar story in an entertaining way?

The ingredients are certainly there. In addition to Branagh as the famous detective Hercule Poirot, the film features a talent-rich ensemble cast including Penelope Cruz, Derek Jacobi, Michelle Pfeiffer, Judi Dench, and Willem Dafoe. Unfortunately, Branagh, wearing his director’s hat, largely wastes them. Continue reading →