Rudd stars as latest Marvel hero

In the latest Marvel superhero film, we’re introduced to Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a con artist who is recruited by Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to become Ant-Man. With the power to shrink to the size of an ant, yet have superhuman strength, Ant-Man has to pull off a huge heist to save the world. We all love Paul Rudd, but we’re not so sure about the film. Ant-Man is one of the lesser-known heroes, and we can’t help but wonder if there is a reason for that.

Ant-Man opens in wide release July 17.

PAIGE: I have many feelings about this movie. Part of me is still like, “What do you mean we get an Ant-Man film before a Hawkeye or Black Widow-centric movie?” and is filled with indignant nerd rage, and the other half of me is like, “But did you notice that Scott Lang has a daughter in this film, so if they do a Young Avengers film/show one day, they have already planted the first seed.” But regardless of my mixed Ant-Man feelings, I always watch superhero movies on opening weekend, so I will see this, 100 percent for sure.

NICOLE: Sorry, I don’t think I can get behind this movie — only because I can’t get behind the actual character.

JAIMIE: I can’t say I’m particularly interested in Ant-Man. Like, really? His greatest allies are ants? I understand that the suit gives him superpowers, but damn, ants are, like, the easiest bugs to kill.

CHRISTINA: I was actually kind of excited about this movie, because while I don’t usually care about superhero movies, I always care about Paul Rudd. Buuuuut, this just looks boring to me.

NICOLE: I can’t take Paul Rudd seriously. He’s a perpetual goofball to me. I like the funny movies he’s been in, so now whenever I see him, I expect something comical and absurd to happen. Like in the trailer, when he gets punched in the face by who I’m assuming are prison inmates, I couldn’t help but think, “There’s no way.” There’s no way he can possibly make this role work in my mind. I had to chuckle a little bit to myself because I imagined Paul Rudd (Peter from I Love You, Man) in a real fist fight. Is Paul Rudd supposed to be helpless and one of those I-can’t-believe-he’s-the-savior-of-the-universe types?

JAIMIE: I do love Paul Rudd, so I might watch it because of that. But probably when it makes its way to TV. I want to see Paul Rudd as Mike on Friends, or as Andy in Wet Hot American Summer, or Brian Fontana in Anchorman.

As a Marvel action hero? Eh, maybe not so much.

PAIGE: Paul Rudd is very likable. The humor does not seem too forced. I mean, yeah, it won’t be at Winter Soldier-level of awesome, but it’ll be certainly more entertaining than the Thor films. Sorry, Thor.

CHRISTINA: As a “superhero” Ant-Man seems kind of … I don’t know, I am just left to think what the hell is this even? Like, his superpower is to become small enough to be crushed by a toddler. Great. Also, I’ve never even heard of this superhero before this trailer. Probably because Ant-Man sounds kind of lame and nobody cares.

NICOLE: It’s the suit that has power! There’s nothing special about Ant-Man. He’s ordinary. It’s the suit that’s the amazing thing.

PAIGE: Technically, Ant-Man’s power is in the suit, yes, but the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym, was a uber genius like Tony Stark, so the suit really is just a manifestation of his superior intelligence. He builds a whole lot of other stuff, too — like Ultron, in the comics. Paul Rudd’s character, Scott Lang, is a (comparatively) ordinary guy who uses the suit. But you can’t say that Ant-Man isn’t a hero, as Iron Man is basically the exact same way: a man in a suit. And so is Batman. They all need their suits. But they are still heroes!

JAIMIE: This entire conversation is making me sad. Only because I love Paul Rudd so much and I want him to succeed in life and it makes me sad that we can’t get behind him as a superhero. Can’t they just like, make up a some superhero that has the ability to instill world peace through HUMOR?