← Back to Directory
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Movie

Ant-Man and the Wasp

2018 • Unknown

Woke Score
3
out of 10

Plot

Just when his time under house arrest is about to end, Scott Lang once again puts his freedom at risk to help Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym dive into the quantum realm and try to accomplish, against time and any chance of success, a very dangerous rescue mission.

Overall Series Review

The film centers on a desperate mission to rescue the original Wasp, Janet van Dyne, from the subatomic Quantum Realm, which she entered decades prior to save the world. The narrative is driven entirely by familial bonds: Hank Pym's love for his wife and Hope's desire to find her mother. Scott Lang's primary motivation remains his daughter, Cassie, as he struggles to balance being a hero with his house arrest obligations. The Wasp, Hope van Dyne, is the true operational lead, showcasing advanced combat skills and scientific expertise while Scott provides comic relief and unexpected power bursts. The main antagonist is a tragic figure, Ghost, whose physical suffering drives her quest, not a political or ideological motive. The tone is light, focusing on elaborate chase sequences, sci-fi concepts, and a positive depiction of a blended family unit.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics3/10

The film introduces a gender-swapped character, Ghost, who is a non-white female antagonist. This character is not used to lecture on privilege; her motivation is physical pain and a desperate quest for a cure. The cast is diverse in supporting roles, but the narrative focuses on character-specific goals and individual merit rather than immutable characteristics.

Oikophobia2/10

The central mission is a high-stakes, dangerous rescue of a foundational family member, Janet van Dyne, who is explicitly a Cold War hero that sacrificed herself to stop a Soviet missile from hitting American soil. The story respects the institution of the nuclear and blended family, with Scott Lang constantly prioritizing his role as a father, upholding an appreciation for ancestral sacrifice and home culture.

Feminism5/10

Hope van Dyne is portrayed as the superior, highly competent, and fully prepared superhero/scientist, effectively serving as the 'Girl Boss' of the operation. Scott Lang is frequently depicted as less competent, bumbling, and reliant on Hope's leadership. However, the film subverts the anti-natalist theme by making the successful rescue of the lost wife and mother, Janet, the ultimate heroic goal, and by portraying Scott’s blended family unit as overwhelmingly positive.

LGBTQ+1/10

The story adheres to a normative structure, centering on the traditional male-female pairing of Scott and Hope and the multi-generational family unit of Hank, Janet, and Hope. Scott’s relationships with his ex-wife and her new husband, who positively co-parent their daughter, emphasize the nuclear family structure. Alternative sexualities or gender ideology are not part of the narrative or commentary.

Anti-Theism1/10

The movie operates within a secular, science-fiction framework, using 'Quantum' as a near-mystical concept. It does not contain any critique of or hostility toward organized religion. The moral conflict, centered on the antagonist's tragic circumstances and the heroes' altruism, acknowledges an objective right (saving a life) versus wrong (sacrificing an innocent person), without embracing moral relativism.