7 Reasons You MUST SEE the Ant-Man and the Wasp Movie with Your Kids

I was honored to be invited to the #AntManandWaspEvent, a Disney press junket for Marvel Studios Ant-Man and the Wasp movie, Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, and Disney Junior’s Fancy Nancy. As a guest, my expenses were covered in return for a series of articles about my experiences and reviews of the programming.

 

Last Saturday night I had the opportunity to watch Marvel Studios Ant-Man and the Wasp movie at an advance screening at the Walt Disney Studios. We were only the second group to have seen the movie in and its entirety. Other than what I saw in the trailers, I really didn’t know what to expect. And I admit after Avengers Infinity War I was concerned that Ant-Man 2 might be too serious or might not fit with the Marvel superhero series of movies. I could not have been more wrong. The Ant-Man and the Wasp movie was incredible. Where Avengers Infinity War was heavy and serious and full of suspense, the Ant-Man and the Wasp was light and funny while still being able to call itself a superhero movie. Take a look at why I think you must see Ant-Man and the Wasp with your kids in this Ant-Man and the Wasp movie review. If you’ve been asking yourself if Ant-Man and the Wasp movie is for kids, this article will help you answer that question.

 

 

Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP opens in theaters everywhere on July 6th!

 

About Marvel Studios’ new movie Ant-Man and the Wasp

From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes ANT-MAN AND THE WASP, a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink. In the aftermath of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a super hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside the Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from the past.

 

 

7 BIG reasons to watch Ant-Man and the Wasp with kids

The Ant-Man and the Wasp movie will have you laughing until you cry!

The Ant-Man and the Wasp movie is a superhero Marvel Avengers movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It can be hard to make me laugh, let alone laugh till I am crying. But Ant-Man and the Wasp movie did it. I could not stop laughing. I loved it! There are times when I chuckled and other times where it was just one laugh after the next. Yes, there is action and adventure. It’s just infused with comedy. It’s family-friendly comedy. The humor is not crude or sexual in nature and it’s not over your kids’ head. From Ant-Man using a tow truck as a scooter to Luis (Michael Peña) telling another one of his stories from the one-liners Ant-Man delivers to the zings Cassie (Ant-Man/Scott’s daughter played by Abby Ryder Fortson) gets in on Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), your kids will be laughing right along with you.

 

Female superheroes and villians who will leave their mark on your kids’ imagination and aspirations.

One of the most powerful things Evangeline Lilly told us in our interview (more details coming soon) is that she wanted “to show that female superheroes can be strong because of their feminity, not in spite of it.” In Ant-Man and the Wasp we see Hope Pym (played by Evangeline Lilly) grow into her character as the Wasp. Her strength comes as much from her mind as it does from her body as she must overcome challenges that aren’t just physical, but mental as well. As the Wasp she battles not just the bad guys, but a bad girl as well. Hannah John-Kamen plays Ghost a villian with a complicated past who needs something from Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Dr. Pym in order to feel complete. When these women battle we see fight scenes with moves men just can’t do. Girls and boys will know without a doubt that while we may be different we all can show strength in mind and in body.

 

Great examples of father daughter relationships

In the Ant-Man and the Wasp movie, we get to witness three father-daughter relationships: Cassie and her dad, Ant-Man/Scott Lang, Hope and her father Hank Pym, and Ghost and her foster father Dr. Bill Foster. The relationship between Cassie and Scott is precious. It’s clear from the opening scenes when we see the extraordinary efforts Scott goes through to make his time with Cassie memorable and fun while he’s under house arrest. Your mind will be blown when you see the ant tunnel he created for her. Warning…you’ll laugh and be impressed, but don’t be surprised when your kids start asking you to build them one.

In another moment, we see how Scott handles a difficult situation… Cassie wants to be his partner. It’s a sweet and touching moment that as parents we can all relate to. It can be so hard to tell your child no to something they really want. The father daughter team of Abby Ryder Fortson and Paul Rudd give us moments that warm our heart and make us laugh.

 

In the Hope and Hank Pym father-daughter relationship we see a relationship that had been strained get rebuilt. We see some of that rebuilding in the first Ant-Man movie. It continues with Ant-Man and the Wasp as Dr. Pym shares with Hope more about her mom and how she disappeared. Together, father and daughter work to find out what happenned to Janet van Dyne/Pym and if she’s lost forever.

 

There’s also somewhat of a father-daughter relationship between Dr. Bill Foster and Ghost. Dr. Foster is one of the first adults who comes to spend time with Ghost as a caring adult in her life. In an effort to offer you a spoiler-free review of Ant-Man and the Wasp movie, I won’t say anything more about that. But it’s definitely a relationship to watch.

 

See yourself and your family in the Ant-Man and the Wasp movie.

In Marvel Studios’s Ant-Man and the Wasp movie we get to see characters, who are normally portrayed not so positively, in positive roles. It starts with Cassie’s blended family. Mom (Judy Greer as Maggie) is remarried to (Bobby Cannavale as Paxton) and they share custody with Scott/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd). Typically, we see blended families clash, argue with each other, and not treat each other nicely. Not in Ant-Man and the Wasp, in this movie, we see examples of where all the parents are welcome in each others’ homes, they coparent together. We even see examples of Scott’s ex-wife sticking up for Scott and other examples where a family hug means everyone gets in on it, Cassie, her mom, her dad, and her step dad. For kids and their parents, this is huge. Kids need to know and see that even if their parents get divorced they can treat each other amicably.

 

Another idea that kids need to see examples of is diversity and inclusiveness. We see that first with Scott’s group of friends. It’s a diverse group of smart guys from different backgrounds that are using their technical backgrounds to develop a security firm. Not only are these guys smart, but they are hilarious and they deliver some of the most funny scenes in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Later in the movie we are introduced to highly-intellegant Dr. Bill Foster, a biochemist, who also happens to be an African-American. A role that Laurence Fishburne recognizes serves as a role model to others, especially teens and tweens watching Marvel movies.

 

Kids are going to see themselves in these characters. Their families may resemble Cassie’s. Their friends may be similar to the Ant-Man’s friends. They will see Ant-Man and the Wasp and identify with it and connect it with their own lives.

 

Teamwork makes the dream work.

It’s called Ant-Man AND the Wasp for a reason. To accomplish the mission Ant-Man can’t do it alone. It requires a team. While the Wasp does play a major role in aiding Ant-Man, Dr. Pym, Luis, and others are also vitally important to how things play out. We can all be great, but we can be greater when we work together. That’s a powerful lesson for kids to see in film.

 

Get some hints and clues into what will happen in Avengers 4.

What’s great about the Marvel films is that while each one can stand alone, they are all interconnected. You can walk into the Ant-Man and the Wasp movie without having seen any of the other Marvel Avengers movie, but it helps to have seen them. I don’t want to spoil anything, but listen to the words from the characters. Think about what happens and doesn’t happen to the characters. Stay till the very end..the first mid-credit scene and the final post credit scene. Then, make your own predictions for what happens in Avengers 4. I’ll share my predictions in a few weeks.

 

Comic book artist and legend Stan Lee will be back making a cameo appearance.

There’s always a Stan Lee appearance in a Marvel film and this one doesn’t dissapoint. I won’t tell you exactly where, but look for him in one of the street scenes.

 

Bonus reason to watch Ant-Man and the Wasp with your kids.

The use of profanity or curse words is mild, think sh** or a**. It was nothing I even noticed at first glance till a friend called my attention to it. There was no harsh swearing that would make me turn it off or say no and there have been some Marvel movies where the cursing was just too much. I was also happy that besides a kiss scene there was no nudity, or scenes that will make you squirm. You really can enjoy Ant-Man and the Wasp with your kids and not get embarrassed or feel like you need to cover their eyes.

 

Take a look at these Ant-Man and the Wasp videos to get a glimpse of what you can expect.

The Ant-Man and the Wasp movie trailer

 

Two scenes from Ant-Man and the Wasp

 

 

Learn more about Ant-Man and the Wasp at any of these links:

• Like ANT-MAN AND THE WASP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marvelstudios
• Follow ANT-MAN AND THE WASP on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntMan
• Follow Marvel Studios on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvelstudios
• Like Marvel Studios on Like Marvel Studios on Facebook
• Follow Marvel Studios on Twitter

 

• Get to know the talent behind the Ant-Man and the Wasp movie with these Interviews with the cast and producers
  
  • Laurence Fishburne (“Dr. Bill Foster”)
  • Hannah John-Kamen (“Ghost”)
  • Michael Douglas (“Dr. Hank Pym”)
  • Director Peyton Reed
  • Evangeline Lilly (“Hope van Dyne / The Wasp”) interview
  • Paul Rudd (“Scott Lang / Ant-Man”) interview

 

How excited are your kids to see Ant-Man and the Wasp?

 

 

Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP opens in theaters everywhere on July 6th!

 

This Friday, #AntManandtheWaspEvent series continues with an interview with Paul Rudd (Ant-Man). You can get caught up with our #AntManandtheWaspEvent series anytime by clicking on #AntManandtheWaspEvent.

 

Need help selecting family-friendly movies? Visit Jersey Family Fun’s Family Movie Reviews series. Want to plan a fun family movie night? Visit our Family Movie Night series.