Ant-Man

It's an interesting time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now the entertainment juggernaut has successfully brought many of its most well known superheroes to the big screen, and set in motion some ongoing storylines allowing them to interact, the stage is set for the introduction of a few lesser-known costumed crime-fighters.

And while it's safe to say Marvel isn't going to mess with a winning formula, this development does allow for a little diversity in style. That's apparent in Ant-Man, which winningly throws a microscopic new hero into the mix.

Back in the day, scientist Dr Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) perfected a process that allowed a human being to shrink to the size of an insect. Combine this with a device enabling the user to communicate with and command ants, and their possibilities for spying, sabotage or worse were plentiful.

Recognising his invention could be abused, Pym shelved it...but not before his protege Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) saw its potential and ran with it.

Now, with Cross on the verge of selling his weaponised version (the 'Yellowjacket') to the highest bidder, Pym and his semi-estranged daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) must sneak into a secure scientific facility and steal it.

Enter good-hearted ex-con Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), who after proving his worth as a cat burglar, is recruited to don Pym's atom-adjusting super-suit and join their cause as the tiny but mighty Ant-Man.

Marvel is describing Ant-Man as a heist caper rather than a superhero blockbuster. And while it adheres in large part to the company's storytelling template, the difference is noticeable. The stakes are still kinda high but the whole movie has a loose, casual tone (combined with a slightly self-aware B-movie vibe) that's awfully appealing.

Rudd is the key to setting that tone. The acting is terrific across the board (with a special shoutout to Michael Pena as Scott's chatty, cheerful partner in crime), but the ever-likeable Anchorman and Knocked Up star takes to larger-than-life (or smaller-than-life) heroics like he was born for it.