by Nathaniel R
Paul Rudd vs Jonathan Majors in "Quantumania"
Forever behind, always catching up. Herewith two spontaneous reviews of threequels that came out during Oscar madness that we never got around to talking about (as they weren't related to that all-consuming golden season): Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Steven Soderbergh's trilogy-closing Magic Mike's Last Dance...
Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania
Pfans rejoice - Michelle Pfeiffer gets a much larger role in this third "episode" of the franchise and we promise to talk about her once the movie comes to Disney+ and is available for screenshotting. Pfeiffer excepted, the third installment is a major letdown. The problems are many but they began quickly. Strangely, despite the reunion of the old team, the movie promptly forgets that this particular franchise is endearing largely because it eschews the 'end of the world' enormity of the other Marvel films and shrinks down to human size (or less). This one also doesn't feel like a movie at all but a barely shaped Disney+ miniseries that you happen to be bingeing in a movie theater. The strangest problem given Marvel's previous faith that audiences would be with them through everything -- is that it holds your hand at every possible plot point indicating that the story isn't over yet. See, if you defeat a villain it doesn't mean you've won. Duh!
Jonathan Majors (normally potent onscreen) hasn't yet made a case for himself as a Thanos level 'big bad' for the larger MCU despite a lot of screentime. Kang the Conqueror also has a power set that is, let's just say, ill-defined. The vagueness of the villain takes the stakes and interest out of the battles. Most unfortunate of all, the usually reliable Paul Rudd coasts through this one, wearing his charisma like an old shirt that he forgot to wash and iron before putting on, assuming we'd just love seeing it (and him) again. Also the movie is visually hideous not even benefitting from the campiness that excuses some of the garishnessness of the Thor movies. C-
Currently in theaters but, if history is indication, will be on Disney+ soon (April? May?)
Magic Mike's Last Dance
The title is wistful, reminding audiences with finality, of what an enchanting screen character Channing Tatum's furniture-making stripper has been. But, surprise surprise, Salma Hayek completely steals this particular dance. She's too three-dimensional to be a manic pixie dream girl but she does have a dream (to share Mike's Magic with the world) and she is certainly manic. Her character, an obscenely wealthy soon-to-be divorced woman, is a swirling nightmare mix of emotional avoidance, entitlement, short-attention spans, loneliness and horniness... and yet her maddening behavior is somehow endearing! It's an electric but accidental reminder that we seldom see big stars appearing "hungry" onscreen. That vibe is usually reserved for actors of lesser fame when they've landed a role they clearly believe is their ticket to stardom and they're going to leave everything onscreen.
Overall the movie is an odd experience, not completely committed to comedy, drama, sexiness, or even stripping. They're all reduced to utilitarian elements entirely in service of a remarkably silly plot that's right out off a Mickey & Judy MGM picture! Too bad the show these kids are putting on looks so damn terrrible and then asks us to imagine that it's profound. This delusion isn't fully annoying but kind of sweet thanks to Hayek's belief in it. Last Dance is without question the weakest of the three Magic Mike pictures, but it's still worth a look... especially for Hayek fans. B-
After a brief theatrical run it's streaming on HBOMax and available to rent on most services.