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REVIEW: ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ provides a hero with a moral compass

REVIEW: ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ provides a hero with a moral compass

Good guy Ethan Hunt has never been one to run from trouble, but even he may have doubts about his latest assignment.

It began when he agreed to try to stop a terrorist group – the same one that already sparked a regional smallpox outbreak – from acquiring plutonium for nuclear weapons. But when Plan A went awry, he had to resort to Plan B, which involved infiltrating the terrorist network and pretending to be the lead buyer of plutonium.

Ethan Hunt – a terrorist who purchases nuclear bombs? Say it ain’t so! Of course, it’s for a good cause: saving humanity and keeping the weapons from the bad guys.

And somehow, he’s still hoping to maintain his ethics and morals, which includes his No. 1 rule: no innocent bloodshed.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (PG-13) opens this weekend, starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt,  Ving Rhames as his partner Luther, Simon Pegg as his other partner Benji, Henry Cavill as CIA operative August Walker and Alec Baldwin as IMF secretary Alan Hunley.

It is the sixth installment in the Mission: Impossible film series, which launched in 1996 and tells the story of Hunt, an agent within an anti-crime U.S. government body known as the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) who is given only the most difficult of assignments.

In Fallout, Hunt discovers that the only way he can prevent a nuclear holocaust is to pretend to be a murdering terrorist.

It’s one of the most entertaining action films I’ve watched – with wall-to-wall chases and cliffhangers (some literal ones) around every corner – but it’s marred by strong language and more violence than I’d want my tween son to see. Hunt, though, provides us an example of an action hero with a solid moral compass.

Let’s examine the details

Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!

(Scale key: Minimal, moderate, extreme)

Coarse Language

Moderate. About 33 words: s—t (7), h-ll (7), SOB (4), d—n (4), OMG (3), misuse of “God” (2), misuse of “Jesus” (2), a— (2), f-word (1), misuse of “Jesus Christ” (1).

Violence/Disturbing

Extreme. Expect a gunfight or hand-to-hand fisticuffs every five minutes, with plenty of bodies on the ground (Although it stays somewhat bloodless). We see Hunt and his sidekicks get into a gun fight underground with the bad guys. Hunt tasers someone in the neck. Minutes later, Hunt and Walker get into a bathroom fight with someone. Mirrors are broken. Sinks are broken. A plumbing pipe is used as a weapon. A man is shot in the face (We don’t see it, but we do see blood on the floor). Hunt and a woman stab several people with knives when attacked. A woman is run over by a motorcycle but survives. Terrorists plot to kill cops to help a friend escape (The plan fails). A man nearly drowns in a vehicle. Helicopters crash; we see a victim with a mutilated side of his face. A man nearly dies while hanging. Another man is strangled to death.

Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity

Minimal. Two people kiss.

Other Positive Elements

If only Jack Bauer of 24 fame were as driven to do the right thing. Hunt saves someone who tried to kill him. He refuses to let a friend get killed – even though the action might have saved millions of lives. When he learns the bad guys may kill a dozen or so people, he does everything he can to stop it – despite the fact that doing so might blow his cover.

Other Stuff You Might Want To Know

We see men (from behind) using the restroom.

Life Lessons

Most of us are able to sleep at night in peace without worrying about crime or terrorism. That’s because brave men and women – law enforcement and military personnel, for example – put their lives on the line for our safety. Sure, the Mission: Impossible series is all about action and excitement, but it’s also about self-sacrifice and putting others first – two things Hunt and his teammates do on a regular basis. For families who enjoy the series, that’s a topic worth discussing.

Worldview/Ethics

Ethan Hunt has a weakness. Or is it a strength? It is this: He refuses to let anyone die – especially innocent people and his teammates – if they can be saved. That gets him in trouble with his bosses early in the movie when he opts to save his friends instead of capturing the plutonium. Does the world need people who “care about the one life as much as they care about the millions” – as his boss describes it? Of course it does. But is that a good trait for counter-terrorism officials? In the television series 24, Jack Bauer was known to take drastic actions – even killing friends – when multiple lives were at risk. In Fallout, Hunt does just the opposite and tries his hardest to save everyone. It’s the film’s dominant theme. I enjoyed watching Jack Bauer on TV, but Hollywood needs more action heroes like Ethan Hunt.    .

What Works

The action. The cinematography. The chase scenes. Fallout has some of the most exhilarating car chase scenes I’ve witnessed. The fact that it all takes place in Paris and London only adds to the enjoyment.

What Doesn’t

The movie’s final scenes. There’s no way they got all that done in 15 minutes, as presented. Still, it was fun to watch.

Discussion Questions

  1. Is it always right to “care about the one life” as much as you “care about the millions”? How does that play out in government? Law enforcement? The military? Was Hunt always right?
  2. What did you think about the arrangement Hunt and his wife had made? How does that square with Scripture?
  3. What can you do to encourage any military personnel or law enforcement officials you know?

Entertainment rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Rated PG-13 for violence and intense sequences of action, and for brief strong language. 

REVIEW: ‘Mamma Mia 2’ teaches us how NOT to approach romance

REVIEW: ‘Mamma Mia 2’ teaches us how NOT to approach romance

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is a mixed bag. It features plenty of catchy tunes and fun choreography to accompany its thin plot, along with a decent message about parenting and a horrible message about romance.

Sophie is a free-spirited woman just like her mom, Donna. She sings. She dances. She throws parties.

And just like her mom, she’s opening a hotel — the Hotel Bella Donna on the Greek island of Kalokairi – and planning a grand-opening bash. Her friends are invited, and her family, too. But most of all, she wants her “three dads” to come – that is, the three men who might be her father. No one knows which one is the real dad, but for now, that’s OK. She views all of them as family.

Of course, she would love it if her fiancé Sky could come to the grand opening, too, but he’s in New York City for six weeks learning more about the hotel business. Once that’s complete, he’ll return to Kalokairi and manage the hotel with Sophie. Or so she thinks.

Sky phones and tells her he’s been offered a full-time job in New York City – a job he really wants. Can a romance survive if two people who are an ocean apart refuse to give an inch?

The musical Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (PG-13) opens this weekend as a sequel to the 2008 film Mamma Mia!, which grossed $144 million in the U.S. and finished 13th on the domestic chart that year. The newest film serves as both a prequel and sequel, going back and forth between scenes from Donna’s younger years to scenes of Sophie preparing for the grand opening. It stars Amanda Seyfried (Les Miserables, Mamma Mia!) as Sophie; Lily James (Cinderella) as the young Donna; Meryl Streep (Out of Africa) as the older Donna; Pierce Brosnan (James Bond film series) as Sam, one of the three dads; and Cher as Sophie’s grandmother.

The movies are based on the Broadway play Mamma Mia! and feature music from the 1970s group ABBA as well as new songs by ABBA member Benny Andersson. They’re also very popular among teen girls and women. (The female-to-male ratio in my theater was 10-to-1.)

Mamma Mia! Here We Got Again is a mixed bag. It features plenty of catchy tunes and fun choreography to accompany its thin plot, along with a decent message about parenting and a horrible message about romance.

Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!

(Scale key: Minimal, moderate, extreme)

Violence/Disturbing

None.

Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity

Moderate. No nudity, but plenty of bedroom/sex talk and inuendo. Young Donna is seen in a bikini top and displays her midriff and cleavage in several scenes. The opening scene includes ABBA’s “I Kissed the Teacher,” with the song referencing a female teacher and Donna, at the school’s graduation, seen pretending to kiss a female teacher. Later, Donna meets a man over lunch and he discusses the “advantages and disadvantages of spending the night together.” She had met him that day, but we then see them in bed, post-sex. Donna meets a second guy, who takes her across the water to an island on his boat. They don’t sleep together, but apparently only because of a lack of time. Donna meets a third man, and they kiss outside his house at night. The next scene shows them in a boat the next morning, with him wanting to talk about “last night” (It’s implied they slept together). We then learn he was engaged to another woman. Later, we see her hop in the bed with the man who pilots the boat. Sex is implied, but we don’t see anything. Other characters kiss during the movie, too. Some of the dancing is sensual, but most of it is OK.

Coarse Language

Minimal. About six words: h-ll (2), misuse of “God” (2), misuse of “Jesus Christ” (1), OMG (1)

Other Positive Elements

The three dads – even though they don’t know which one is the biological father, truly care for Sophie as a daughter. One even walks out of an important business meeting to make her grand opening. “Family is all that matters,” he says.

Other Stuff You Might Want To Know

The death of a parent is a central part of the plot. Characters drink wine.

Life Lessons

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again displays the consequences of a free-spirited, carefree attitude toward romance and sex while also teaching us it’s never too late to reconcile. (See: the three dads and Sophie’s grandmother.) Mostly, though, we’re stuck with a ton of songs about falling in love after a 24-hour relationship that often includes sex. That’s not much different than many popular songs on the radio today, but in Mamma Mia! we see it played out on the big screen.

“I have absolutely nothing mapped out (and have) no idea what the future holds” a young Donna says, as she falls for another man.

The film offers us lessons on how not to confront a romantic relationship and about what not to do before you’re married. Sure, it’s fun to watch Donna sing about “romance” and Sophie sing about her three fathers, but in the real world, it’s not fun and games. No kid deserves to grow up like that, wondering which man whom her mom slept with is her real dad. Sleeping around is easy. Parenting a child at a young age – the consequence of this care-free attitude – is hard work. Too often, young adults aren’t ready for the latter. In the real world, we don’t break out in song and dance to make everything feel better.

Worldview

ABBA’s hit song “Waterloo” – which is part of the movie – includes this lyric: “[I] promise to love you forever more.” Unfortunately, few if any people in the film do that. Sophie’s mom had sex with so many men that she doesn’t know the identity of her daughter’s father. The three fathers themselves are no picture of virtue. An elderly woman in the movie was divorced three times. Even Sophie is unmarried, having called off the wedding at the end of the first film to sail around the world with Sky.

At one point in the film, a depressed young Donna says, “I don’t know how to sing about love when I’m not feeling it.” Therein lies the problem. Love isn’t just a feeling. The biblical definition of love involves sacrifice and selflessness. It includes action. It includes loving a person even when you don’t “feel like it.” “Mamma Mia! love” is fleeting. Real love lasts a lifetime.

Thankfully, Sophie does show a little more responsibility than her mom, especially at the end.

What Works

The music and the dance. There aren’t many genres of music I don’t enjoy.

What Doesn’t

The story contains a few major plot holes and unanswered questions.

Discussion Questions

  1. Define “love.” How does the biblical definition of love differ from Donna’s definition?
  2. Why couldn’t Donna ever find true love? What was she doing wrong?
  3. What is the problem with sex before marriage? How did it blind Donna and her boyfriends?
  4. Do you think Sophie learned from her mother’s actions?
  5. Why do songs impact us so much?

Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Rated PG-13 for some suggestive material.

REVIEW: ‘Skyscraper’ has a pro-fatherhood message that society needs

REVIEW: ‘Skyscraper’ has a pro-fatherhood message that society needs

Skyscraper is but the latest disaster movie in a long line of peril films out of Hollywood, but its family-centric message sets it apart. Still, it contains some rough edges.

Will Sawyer is a tough guy with a soft heart. Tall and muscular, he was a military man and then an FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader until an explosion nearly killed him, left him discouraged and disabled.

Today, he travels the world and accesses the safety and security level of skyscrapers while also keeping a close eye on his wife and two children – the three people he says make life worth living.

“I don’t know where I’d be without my family,” he says.

His latest job has him in Hong Kong examining the world’s tallest skyscraper, a 220-story behemoth that’s so large it has its own power plant and, of course, a high-tech anti-fire system that the experts call fool-proof. But is it?

Sawyer’s day is going as planned until he learns of a plot to set fire to the building and kidnap the owner. That’s bad enough, but when he discovers his family is at the very top of the building – above the area of the planned explosion – his day grows tragic. He pledges to do everything he can to save them, but … how?

The action-filled Skyscraper (PG-13) opens this weekend, starring Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji, Moana) as Sawyer;  Neve Campbell (Scream series) as his wife, Sarah; and Pablo Schreiber (13 Hours) as Ben.

Skyscraper is but the latest disaster movie in a long line of peril films out of Hollywood, but its family-centric message – focusing on a loving father doing everything in his power to rescue his family sets it apart. Essentially, it’s a pro-traditional family flick wrapped in a disaster plot, with a bit of language and a ton of peril and violence sprinkled all around.

It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I was surprised at the message. Still, there was plenty that I didn’t like. Let’s examine the details.

Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!

(Scale key: Minimal, moderate, extreme)

Violence/Disturbing

Extreme. With lots of explosions, fisticuffs and gun fights. Sawyer and another man engage in a lengthy hand-to-hand fight that includes a knife and a broken television. A man is shot and killed. We see the building set on fire. Police are shot. A man is shot and killed at point-blank range. A woman is killed that way, too. The bad guys enter a room with machine guns and begin shooting, killing most. A helicopter crashes and burns. A man falls off the building. Children are held hostage. Also, it’s worth mentioning: If you’re scared of heights or have nightmares about dying in a fire, then this movie isn’t for you.

Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity

None. A couple share a brief kiss.

Coarse Language

Minimal/moderate. About 15 coarse words: s—t (6), misuse of “God” (5), OMG (1), f-word (1), d—n (1), h-ll (1). Also: “screw it” (3) and sucks (2). The f-bomb seemed out of place and pointless. Why, Hollywood? That said, Skyscraper contains little language for a PG-13 film.

Other Stuff You Might Want To Know

Sawyer was injured 10 years ago in an explosion that left him without a lower leg (below the knee). He wears a prosthetic limb.

His daughter is called “princess” by one of the bad guys. The long-haired girl responds: “I’m a king.”

Life Lessons

Skyscraper has its flaws, but it’s nevertheless full of life application, led by its message about family (See Worldview, below). The film contains a great lesson about overcoming disabilities, too. Finally, there are lessons about courage, bravery and teamwork.

Worldview

Jesus told more than 20 parables while he walked on Earth, and none of them – not surprisingly – involved tall buildings. But if we were to write our own parable about the lengths a father should go to protect and rescue his family, Skyscraper might be it. That’s because the movie’s theme isn’t “beat the bad guys” – as is the case with most action movies – but, instead, is this: Sacrifice for your wife and kids. Provide for them. Love them. Family is essential.

“Her life is what matters to me – not mine,” Sawyer says in one scene, referencing his daughter.

If only every goofy PG-13 film had this much meaning.

What Works

The rescue. The wide vistas. The 220-floors-from-the-ground scenes that make your stomach churn.

What Doesn’t

Yes, the theme is great, but the plot is thin and confusing. I’m still not sure why the bad guys wanted to burn down the building. This isn’t supposed to be Casablanca, though. Grab the popcorn and enjoy the ride.

Discussion Questions

  1. Was Will Sawyer similar to or different from the fathers you know?
  2. Did the movie change how you view parenting and/or children? If so, how?
  3. What positive characteristics should you borrow from Will Sawyer?
  4. What is the movie’s message about love?
  5. What is the movie’s message about disabilities?

Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Rated PG-13 for sequences of gun violence and action, and for brief strong language.

REVIEW: ‘Hotel Transylvania 3’ a family-centric monster movie. Huh?

REVIEW: ‘Hotel Transylvania 3’ a family-centric monster movie. Huh?

It’s the third film in the Hotel Transylvania series, which has been popular among the moviegoing public but controversial among some Christians for its inclusion of monster themes.

It isn’t easy being Dracula, especially when your primary job is running a hotel. You greet guests. You make sure they’re happy. You balance the books.

When is Dracula – who is more than 500 years old, after all – going to have free time for himself?

That’s when his daughter, Mavis, takes action. Sensing that dear-old “Drac” needs a vacation, she begins planning a getaway for family and friends. She will be part of the trip, too, as will her husband and children. So will Grandpa. And Frankenstein. And Murray the mummy.

Their destination: a monsters-only cruise to the Bermuda Triangle, where they can relax on deck under the moonlight, visit an active volcano and perhaps even find the lost city of Atlantis.

It’s just the type of care-free monster ambiance that can lead to monster love – and that’s exactly what happens when the widower Dracula falls for the ship’s bubbly human captain, Ericka. Can a vampire-human romance endure the test of time? Will it lead to marriage? And, more importantly, will Mavis – who never knew her mom – get out of the way and let her father actually date someone?

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (PG) opens this weekend, starring Adam Sandler (Big Daddy) as Dracula, singer Selena Gomez as Mavis, Kathryn Hahn (Tomorrowland) as Ericka, and a host of other big-name actors – including Kevin James and David Spade – as the other monsters.

The story follows three angles: 1) Dracula’s love for Ericka; 2) Mavis’ effort to thwart the romance; and 3) an attempt by someone on the ship to kill Dracula and his monster friends.

It’s the third film in the Hotel Transylvania series, which has been popular among the moviegoing public but controversial among some Christians for its inclusion of monster themes (More on that in a moment).

Let’s examine the content.

Violence/Disturbing

Moderate. With Looney Tunes-type animated violence. A man tries killing Dracula with several instruments, including a laser. It’s played for laughs. Glemlins pilot the airplane that takes Dracula and his family to the cruise; it crashes into the water. Coffee is poured onto a mummy’s crotch. A character discusses her desire to “kill” Dracula. Frankenstein’s hands, arms and legs fall apart at the beach and run in different directions. Skeletons and several grotesque monsters take part in the cruise. Dracula is bitten by snakes and shot by arrows but doesn’t die. A demonic-looking sea creature tries eating everyone. A human character has a robotic body and carries one of his organs in a jar.

Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity

Minimal. Two monsters kiss at a wedding. Dracula tells his smartphone to help find a date. Someone tells Dracula that he should make his own “fireworks” on the cruise. Dracula dances and briefly twerks. Some of the monster women wear cleavage-bearing clothes and swimsuits. Grandpa wears a speedo, which prompts several witches to stare at his rear. A monster spanks his own bottom while dancing.

Coarse Language

None. Oh my gosh (1) and oh gosh (1).

Other Stuff You Might Want To Know

Ericka says monsters were once underground until they told the world: “We’re here, we’re hairy and it’s our right to be hairy.” The monsters gamble at slots and at card tables. We hear two monsters pass gas.

Life Lessons

Despite its monster plot, Hotel Transylvania 3 covers several major themes that can spark discussions in families: re-marriage, growing up without parents and raising children as a single mom or dad.

“It was hard being a single dad,” says Dracula.

Referencing his next chapter in life, he adds, “Family is everything. You have to honor the past. But we make our own future.”

Another character grew up without her biological parents.

A scene involving a mom and dad finally getting some “alone” time – a date – might remind the moviegoing moms and dads that they need the same.

Additionally, one specific character learns to see another character in a positive light. It’s a nice lesson on not judging a person before you know him/her.

Worldview

The Hotel Transylvania series has split the faith crowd. Some watch them. Others, though, don’t. Why is there a divide? It’s because Hollywood has taken something that traditionally has been viewed as evil – monsters – and turned them into the hilarious good guys. Too, Dracula historically has been a horror figure who craves blood. But in the animated films, he’s the hard-working protagonist who loves his family. Thus, Hollywood redefined monsters and packaged it all in a children’s movie. The first two movies also were released around Halloween – a holiday that some Christians scorn.

Count me among the parents who are uneasy about the Hotel Transylvania series. Yes, the films are often funny and, yes, they carry good themes. I simply wish those points could have been made by using other characters – that is, characters not from the horror genre.

Discussion Questions

  1. What do you think about the use of Dracula, Frankenstein and other monsters in the series as the good guys?
  2. What did you learn about family and parenting by watching Dracula and Mavis?
  3. What caused Ericka to change her mind?
  4. What did you like about the film? Not like?

Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Rated PG for some action and rude humor.

REVIEW: Is ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ OK for young children?

REVIEW: Is ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ OK for young children?

Ant-Man and the Wasp is a fun superhero flick with a great message about parental love. But is it family-friendly?

Hope Van Dyne is a courageous and persistent young woman who would give anything to see her mom again.

More than two decades ago, her mom and dad left on a so-called “business trip,” placing her in the hands of a babysitter and promising to get back soon. Her dad returned home. Her mom didn’t. Hope – a little girl at the time – was traumatized.

She later learned that her parents were undercover superheroes/scientists with the uncanny ability to shrink to the size of tiny objects. Hope’s mom had died while dismantling a nuclear bomb, shrinking so small she couldn’t return to adult size. Her heroic action saved countless lives but left Hope’s father, Hank Pym, a widower. Or so he thought.

Hank now believes his wife still may be alive but at a subatomic level, where she has survived 20-plus years without anyone knowing. Hank even has built a machine that will take him to this “quantum” level so he and Hope – also known as the “Wasp” – can find her. First, though, they need help from an old friend, Scott Lang, who has similar abilities and is known as Ant-Man.

The Marvel movie Ant-Man and the Wasp (PG-13) opens this weekend, starring Evangeline Lilly (Ant-Man, The Hobbit series) as Hope Van Dyne/Wasp, Paul Rudd (Ant-Man) as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer as Hope’s mom, and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix series) as Dr. Bill Foster.

The film is a sequel to 2015’s Ant-Man and also follows the story of Lang, who in the new film is under house arrest and wearing an ankle bracelet due to an international superhero incident. He’s also the father of an energetic 10-year-old girl who visits her father often – he’s divorced – and idolizes his every move.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is a fun superhero flick with a great message about parental love. Still, it contains enough violence and language that moviegoing moms and dads might be concerned.

Warning: minor/moderate spoilers!

(Scale key: Minimal, moderate, extreme)

Violence/Disturbing

Moderate. But typical for a Marvel film, with plenty of bloodless punching and kicking and a few car chase scenes, too. We also see gigantic (but friendly) bugs. The film’s most disturbing elements involve the villain,  Ava/Ghost, whose power allows her to walk through walls. Significantly, though, she is trying to find a cure for this power, which causes physical pain. Some of her scenes are earie, such as when she tries to read minds.

Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity

Minimal. We see two brief kisses. The superhero suits are skin-tight. We see Lang without a shirt. When Lang and Foster trade stories about how many feet they grew during a superhero battle, Hope tells them to stop “comparing sizes.” During a dream scene, we see Lang making out with a woman (while standing up). Lang and Van Dyne have a budding romance.

Coarse Language

Moderate/excessive. About 34 words: d—n (11), h-ll (8), OMG (5), s—t (2), a—(2), misuse of “God” (2), GD (1), SOB (1), misuse of “Jesus” (1), misuse of “Christ” (1). We also hear “screwed” and “jeez.”

Other Positive Elements

The father-daughter angle involving Lang and his girl is enjoyable – so much so that I could have watched a movie based on simply that. Even though he can’t leave his house, they devise numerous creative role-playing games. One even ends with a homemade slide. This tight bond, though, leads to both of them lying to the FBI.

Life Lessons

Lessons on friendship, parenting, forgiveness, teamwork and self-sacrifice fill Ant-Man and the Wasp. The relationship between Lang and his daughter is worth emulating, as is Lang’s relationship with his ex-wife, Maggie, and her husband. They truly are friends. The good guys in the film – including Lang – have empathy for Ava/Ghost.

Finally, it’s worth discussing Hollywood’s first lead female superhero. Unlike Incredibles 2 – which had the female taking the lead in crime fighting – Ant-Man and the Wasp shows the male and female superheroes fighting side by side. Neither has a dominant role.

Worldview/Ethics

When, if ever, is it permissible to break the law to do good? Incredibles 2 raised that question this summer, and Ant-Man and the Wasp does the same. Lang begins the film on house arrest with an order never to leave the premises. He initially is kidnapped by Van Dyne/Wasp but then decides it is best to try to help her find her mom, even though he has concerns he will be locked up “forever.” He and his companions ensure that his ankle bracelet won’t show any illegal movement.

Another interesting angle is Ava/Ghost – a villain who elicits sympathy. Her current predicament and undesired superhero powers are due to actions taken by others, before she was an adult. For parents of children, it’s worth discussing: When are we responsible for our own actions?

What Works

The humor. It’s truly funny and (for the most part) doesn’t drag us in the gutter. Also, the CGI images and special effects are a delight – Lang transforming his body to the size of a child while in an elementary school and the Wasp driving a Matchbox-sized car through the city streets are just two examples of the movie’s highlights.

What Doesn’t

The quantum-driven science plot. It likely didn’t impact my enjoyment, but it’s confusing.

Discussion Questions

  1. Is it ever OK to lie? If so, when? Explain your answer.
  2. Is it ever OK to break the law? If so, when? Explain your answer.
  3. Describe Lang as a father. What did he do that’s worth emulating? What did he do that we shouldn’t emulate?
  4. Did you feel sorry for Ghost? Why or why not?
  5. What do you think about female superheroes?

Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Family-friendly rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is rated PG-13 for some sci-fi action violence.