ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (Rated PG-13)

More consistently funny than the average superhero adventure, “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” the sequel to “Ant-Man” and less so to “Captain America: Civil War,” thrives on the everyman heroics of flawed superhero Scott Lang (Paul Lang) when he dons the costume.

Having survived an incident in Germany, Lang, now under house arrest and monitored by the watchful eye of FBI agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), tries to run his X-Con security firm while tending to his young daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson).

The fact that Lang would rather be a slacker honing his magic skills and playing the drums irritates his estranged mentor Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and former flame Hope van Dyne, aka The Wasp, (Evangeline Lilly).

Nevertheless, Dr. Pym is in need of Lang’s Ant-Man services to tinker with a contraption that could propel him to the Quantum Realm where it is believed his long-missing wife Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer) could be rescued under the proper conditions.

To make this happen, Lang relies on his wise-cracking partner Luis (Michael Pena) and assorted ex-felons at his security business, as well as a measure of good luck, to run interference that would allow him to outwit the federal agents eager to send him back to prison.

Naturally, huge obstacles await the return of Ant-Man working on an invaluable asset that is coveted by slick arms dealer Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins) and his deadly goons as well as by the mysterious Ava, aka Ghost, (Hannah John-Kamen), who needs quantum energy to survive.

Complicating matters even more is that Dr. Pym and Hope are fugitives wanted by the FBI. Meanwhile, Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne), a former colleague of Pym’s who harbors old animosities to his past partner, acts as the protective guardian for Ghost.

The challenge for Lang and his reluctant partners is to stay steps ahead of the law, the criminal thugs and a vengeful Ghost, while working from a miniaturized building that they must alternately guard and later retrieve from their adversaries.

The high stakes of completing the mission to rescue Janet by perfecting a Quantum Tunnel that would travel to a sub-atomic world beyond our own while keeping adversaries at bay leads to plenty of high-energy car chases and fight scenes that contain strong elements of comedic pleasures.

“Ant-Man and the Wasp” may not be considered in the top ranks of superhero films, but it is plenty of fun, which is reasonable to expect when Paul Rudd is so good at bringing his comedic talents to the forefront. This is a film to be enjoyed as good summer entertainment.



‘SHARP OBJECTS’ ON HBO

“Sharp Objects,” the first novel by Gillian Flynn, perhaps best-known for “Gone Girl,” has been adapted into an eight-episode Southern gothic psychological crime series for HBO with an assist from the author.

Camille Preaker (a stellar Amy Adams), an alcoholic with a dark history of self-mutilation, is a crime reporter for the St. Louis Chronicle who is assigned by her editor Curry (Miguel Sandoval) to cover a disturbing story of a murder and disappearance of another teen in a small town.

The town is Wind Gap, Missouri, which looks like a ghost town except for the ubiquitous presence of a trio of roller-skating teen girls and the Chief of Police (Matt Craven) cruising the streets, and it’s where Camille was raised by overbearing mother Adora (Patricia Clarkson).

Camille’s return to her hometown does not make her the prodigal daughter in the eyes of her family. Adora, given to cutting remarks, complains that Camille arrives unannounced only to probe with “horrible, morbid questions, stirring everyone up.”

What appears disturbing to Adora is that Camille arrives as the big city investigator, prompting her to say “I am happy you’re here, but don’t embarrass me – not again.” Camille’s entire visit is destined to be fraught with tension.

The stepfather, Alan Crellin (Henry Czerny), is so detached he spends much of his time fiddling with an expensive sound system. Camille’s half-sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen), a precocious 15-year-old, smartly plays the good-girl role while coyly hiding her wild, rebellious streak.

Flashbacks to the death of Camille’s little sister Marian remain a haunting memory that recurs all the time. What unfolds in “Sharp Objects” is a character study above all else that probes the dysfunctional nature of the family and the inhabitants of a stratified community.

As the inquisitive, hard-drinking reporter, Camille’s comfort zone is found in hanging out in the town’s lone dive bar and driving around swigging vodka from water bottles. Interaction with the local authorities proves to be less comfortable.

The police chief is less than thrilled to be saddled with the unwanted help of young Kansas City detective Richard Willis (Chris Messina), who in turn appears to be equally entranced and annoyed by Camille’s involvement.

“Sharp Objects,” more than a murder mystery, is most often a slow-moving journey through the genesis of Camille’s tortured self-loathing and destructive behavior. It requires patience for the viewer that could pay off.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.