ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
Marvel family heart, but strong language makes this an adults-only trip.
Should You Watch It?
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP is one of the most entertaining superhero movies reviewed here. Its action, humor, and heartwarming messages are blended almost perfectly, while its driving plot and strong character relationships give the sequel unusual warmth.
The movie’s best material centers on parents and children. Scott’s scenes with his daughter, Cassie, are precious, poignant, and winsome. The story also promotes doing the right thing despite the consequences and features positive family themes.
The serious cost is the dialogue. About 19 obscenities appear, including several strong profanities, making the movie unsuitable for children and potentially offensive to Christians and other media-wise viewers. Adults who can tolerate that language may find it worth seeing; families with children should choose another movie.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESScott Lang, the Ant-Man, is under house arrest after violating international accords restricting superheroes. His former mentor, Hank Pym, and Hank’s daughter, Hope, are working from an underground laboratory to reach Janet, Hank’s wife and Hope’s mother, who has been trapped in the subatomic quantum realm for 30 years.
When Scott experiences a mysterious connection to Janet, he risks his freedom to help Hank and Hope. Their rescue mission soon draws the attention of a technology thief, a young woman desperate for quantum energy, and the watchful FBI.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an exceptionally entertaining superhero sequel. The action, humor, and heartwarming messages are almost perfectly integrated. The movie is thrilling and very funny, with a driving plot, exciting action, and strong character arcs.
The actors do marvelous work, and the relationships give the film its emotional strength. The scenes between Scott and Cassie are especially effective. The result is a highly entertaining, well-structured movie whose family themes make its language problems especially disappointing.
The Worldview
The film presents a very strong moral, pro-family worldview with some redemptive elements. It promotes doing the right thing no matter the consequences and emphasizes the special bond between parents and children. Its positive family themes are the movie’s greatest strength.
The story also includes strong pro-American and pro-capitalist elements, along with a message against tyrannical big-government rules and interference that constrain liberty. Heroes hide from and evade federal authorities who have become too tyrannical and mean. The film also contains a reference to evolution that makes no sense.
The movie’s central longing is for families to remain connected and for parents and children to protect one another. Scripture likewise calls families toward faithful love: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Very strong moral, pro-family worldview with some redemptive elements, including a message to do the right thing no matter the consequences, plus strong Pro-American, pro-capitalist elements, a message against tyrannical big government rules and interference that constrain liberty, and a reference to evolution that makes no sense
Foul Language
About 19 obscenities (two “s” words, two “a” words, and about 15 “h” and “d” words), one “For C’s sake,” one “Jesus” profanity, one GD profanity, nine OMG exclamatory profanities, and two or three beginnings of obscenities but they aren’t fully uttered
Violence
Lots of light and some strong action violence includes gunfire, a lengthy spectacular car chase that results in some car crashes, punching and kicking during several fight scenes, people use the power in their high-tech suits to enlarge objects so vehicles and people run into them, character starts to drown, giant creatures in the subatomic quantum realm start to surround a character who’s shrunk himself down to subatomic size
Sex
No sex, but one shot in a comical montage features a passionate kiss between the Ant-Man and the Wasp
Nudity
Brief upper male nudity in one scene
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Some lying, people are injected with “truth serum,” a subatomic link allows a woman trapped in a subatomic realm to speak through a man’s voice to her husband and daughter in one scene, and heroes try to hide from and evade federal authorities who have become too tyrannical and mean.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Scott risks his freedom to help a family rescue someone they love. When should doing the right thing outweigh personal cost?
Micah 6:8 · Acts 5:29The movie highlights the bond between parents and children. What makes a family relationship strong and trustworthy?
Ephesians 6:1–4 · Colossians 3:12–14The story presents freedom as something worth defending. How should Christians think about authority, liberty, and obedience?
Romans 13:1–7 · 1 Peter 2:13–17The film’s language conflicts with its positive family themes. How can our words either build up or tear down the people around us?
Ephesians 4:29 · James 3:9–10The Final Word
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP is thrilling, funny, and unusually warm about parents and children. But its excessive foul language puts this otherwise family-centered adventure out of bounds for children. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. Families seeking a cleaner choice can start here:.
