The newest costumed warrior in the Marvel Universe is Ant-Man, opening today and starring Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, and Evangeline Lily.
I feel about Ant-Man the way I felt about Guardians of the Galaxy last summer when it was released around this time. Of the multitudes of Marvel heroes that could be brought to the screen in this golden age of superhero cinema, this might be around #63 on my list, after Taskmaster, Namor the Submariner, Cloak and Dagger, Starjammers, Rom: Spaceknight, Captain Britain, Dazzler, Skrulls, and The Winsome Wasp movies, to name just a few solid possibilities I’d cheer for.
But, whatever. Marvel has a pretty solid track record so far, with the exception of that Edward Norton Hulk and the continuing absence of a Black Widow movie. I’ll give this one a chance.
Trainwreck is the first starring role for this year’s big breakout comedian Amy Schumer, who also writes this anti-romcom about a commitment-phobic New Yorker, also starring Bill Hader and basketball star LeBron James.
Judd Apatow directs. He has a solid eye for talent. I’m looking forward to this.
Amy is the heartrending documentary on the life and lonely death of hyper-talented singer-singwriter Amy Winehouse. I saw it last week. It’s hard to watch, but pretty much essential viewing.
Oh, and here’s a heads up for next week: My Lens Me Your Ears podcasting partner Stephen Cooke is introducing a screening of the Joe Dante ’80s cult classic the ‘burbs next Wednesday, July 22, at the Museum of Natural History. He and I’ll be doing our next podcast episode on dark comedies in conjunction with it… I’ll let you know when that gets posted. The screening is free, but you still need tickets, which are available in advance down at Strange Adventures.