Is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania safe for kids? Is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania OK for children? Read the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new Ant-Man 3 film sequel directed by James Cameron, starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, and Jonathan Majors. No spoilers! #AntManAndTheWaspQuantumania #AntMan3 May contain commissioned links.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide
New year, new Marvel phase. Marvel Phase 5, anyone else nervous about what’s in store?
After a mediocre Phase 4, I have to admit that my expectations for the Kang Dynasty era are about as tiny as Scott Lang dancing in the Quantum Realm. But with Kevin Feige promising Ant-Man 3 as the perfect kick-off for Marvel’s next phase of movies and shows, perhaps a giant sized Pez dispenser curveball will have fans cheering for the upcoming 2023 releases.
In this Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full PG-13 age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2023 Ant-Man 3 film sequel parents guide to the new Marvel Phase V. A no-spoiler parent review of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, does Paul Rudd bring the third sequel charm? Or is the Marvel Phase 5 going to be the start of yet another round of Phase 4?
Hosting a Marvel Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania movie night? Grab your FREE Ant-Man printable coloring sheets, games, and easy DIY Wasp Wings tutorial for fun party ideas!
The Visuals
Quantum realm, meet IMAX screen. Per usual, the Marvel Cinematic Universe visuals are vividly astounding, especially when it comes to creating an entire CGI Quantum universe. Building a realm with unique creatures, landscapes and bright colors, Phase V is off to a colorful, creative and immersive experience for Marvel fans.
However, even visuals can have a bad day. The Quantum realm seems to have gotten a facelift since we last saw it in Ant-Man 2. This 2023 Quantum realm is more reminiscent of Star Wars meets Strange World meets Avatar. It was hard to not compare the Quantum Realm to other worlds and galaxies we’ve seen on the big screen before.
And what should have easily been it’s own unique visual footprint became a muddled second cousin of other films, distracting me at times from the story. The Quantum realm creatures resembled Star Wars creatures or Mysterio clones. Even some of the Quantum realm costuming reminded me of Hoth rebel soldier uniforms.
Photosensitivity Warning. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is NOT for those with photosensitivity issues. Multiple scenes throughout the film have bright flashing lights and strobing effects. I strongly urge Marvel fans to heed this warning, because of the quantum realm nature and the Marvel use of CGI and visual effects.
The Story
They’re back in the saddle again. Paul Rudd (“Clueless“) and Evangeline Lilly (“Lost“) reprise their super hero icons as Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne in the official kick off for Marvel’s Phase V, The Kang Dynasty. Along with Michael Douglas (“The American President“), Michelle Pfeiffer (“Batman Returns“) and Kathryn Newton (“Pokémon Detective Pikachu“) as Scott’s daughter Cassie, the family sets off on a new sci-fi adventure in the Quantum Realm – ultimately facing Jonathan Majors (“The Last Black Man in San Francisco“) as Kang the Conqueror.
The plot thickens for our beloved heroes as family secrets are revealed in one of the most unusual places, the Quantum Realm. Dynamics change and lots of questions get answered as the story unfolds. And this is when Marvel lost me.
The Quantum Realm has only traces of the DNA it once had back in Ant-Man and the Wasp movie. Taking on a completely different persona (yes, I feel the Quantum Realm is it’s own character), the landscape shifted from a Marvel superhero film into a Star Wars: The Last Jedi/Avatar/sci-fi spoof. The creatures, the costuming, the weapons, the overreaching and overused sci-fi story tropes – it all felt very familiar and yet at the same time disappointing.
With most of the movie completely immersed in CGI, Ant-Man, the most relatable of the Avengers, is no longer grounded in reality. The family relationship dynamics feel forced. The jokes, the goofiness, the fun-loving Scott Lang is missing – as the little guy with no powers and a super suit faces off with one of the most powerful Marvel villains ever. And I don’t understand the matchup. And sadly, that’s not all that I don’t understand in this sequel.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania PG-13 Rating Explained
Is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania safe for kids? With little guy Paul Rudd in charge of the official kick-off for Marvel Phase 5, should parents be concerned? As we all know, not every Marvel release is the same. And with Marvel pushing the envelope on TV-14 and PG-13 ratings these days (remember an almost TV-MA rated Werewolf By Night special presentation, an overly adult themed She-Hulk series or the shocking horror Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness film?), some say that kids are no longer welcome to the Marvel super hero party. Is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania too scary for kids? Or is this more of the Marvel predictable age rating like the original Ant-Man films that parents and kids love?
Why is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania rated PG-13? In this Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, Marvel’s Ant-Man 3 film sequel is rated PG-13 for “violence/action and language.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is kid friendly. Is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania too scary for kids? Let’s breakdown that PG-13 age rating in this Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania parents guide.
Violence/Suspense. Holy violent sequel, Batman. Who stole house arrest Scott Lang and traded him in for Bucky? Reminiscent of more of the serious The Falcon and the Winter Soldier scenes than of the goofy Scott Lang, the intensity of the violence and suspense really threw me for a quantum loop for an Ant-Man sequel. Besides the normal use of sci-fi weapons and guns, it’s the hand-to-hand combat that really needs a spotlight here as Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania may be too violent for kids.
More blood, more gore, more human dismemberment, facial disfigurement, torture, and death, it’s the kind of uncomfortable violence that you would expect from a boxing movie, not a Marvel super hero film. While most of the really intense violence occurs towards the end of the film, it’s enough to leave a lasting impression, especially for kids. Add in 2 possible jump scares (both very mild overall), and I would say that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has more violence than the other 2 Ant-Man films – combined.
Adult Themes. Overall, adult themes are pretty mild in this film. Alcohol is present – with a 6-pack of beers being consumed and 1 champagne toast. One bar scene with a line asking to get “drunk.”
Ant-Man 3 has mild verbal sexual innuendo comparable to Shrek, that may or may not go over the heads of children. Discussion of human “needs,” “holes,” and other mild language used for humor purposes and punchlines. Sexual content also includes 2-second scene of a naked butt – NOT disclosed in the MPAA rating, I might add. Hugging between characters is the only physical touch seen in the film.
Language. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is officially the Marvel film with the most foul language ever. At least, if you consider some of these words to be considered “bad.” But let’s dive in. Swear words include 4 uses of “d1ck,” 4 “sh!t,” 1 “@sshole,” 3 “d@mn,” and about 20-30 uses of “h-e-double-hockey-sticks.” Yes, you heard me right. At least 20. I honestly lost count because of the word overlap. (It will make sense when you see the film.)
Mild words include 10 phrases of “oh my g-d” and a “son of a —” that cuts off before a swear word is stated.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Movie Age Rating for Kids
At a runtime of 2 hours 5 minutes, this Ant-Man 3 film sequel is exactly 7 minutes longer than the Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp movies, right in the sweet spot for Avengers loving kids, without going over the 3-hour Endgame mark for restless wiggle worms.
But add in intense violence, innuendo and increased language – I would sadly say that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the least kid-friendly of the Ant-Man movie trilogy.
Star Wars meets Marvel, anyone? Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is most comparable to Thor: Love and Thunder. It’s a decent Marvel sequel, but not quite on the level of Thor: Ragnarok. The Star Wars and Avatar themes though, from creatures to costuming to overused sci-fi tropes. In one word – WHOA.
It’s a Marvel movie, so DUH. Yes, 2 end credit scenes. 1 mid-credit scene and 1 end credit scene at the VERY, VERY end. Marvel fans will appreciate staying in their seats until the very last second.
This 2023 Ant-Man 3 film sequel is rated PG-13 for “violence/action and language” by the MPAA.
Based on my Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania parents guide and mom review above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Ant-Man 3 for kids younger than the age of 10-11 years old. This Ant-Man film is the most mature of the saga with more intense violence, added sexual innuendo and increased language.
Considering the full PG-13 rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania for kids younger than the age of 10-11 years old.
This Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania rating is most comparable to Avengers: Endgame. I still recommend parents to prescreen Ant-Man 3 for intense violence, sexual innuendo and increased intense language. If your kids have seen and love the Ant-Man film series, then they will love Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Just keep in mind that this Ant-Man sequel is the “most mature” of the bunch.
The Overall
Well, “there’s always room to grow.” And for a 3rd Ant-Man film, I think the little guy forgot to bring a “little” more humanity and audience relatability to the party. The reality is, the reality was missing in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
I miss the real Scott Lang – banging on his drums, taping together his cardboard adventures, and living his regular dad life with a few Marvel super hero mishaps and funny one-liners with his “wombat” friends on the side. I was expecting a Thor: Ragnarok kind of 3rd movie, a strong sequel with a hero finally in his groove. But perhaps because Ant-Man and the Wasp wasn’t a flop like Thor: Dark World, Ant-Man had no place to, ahem, grow…
But stunning visuals cannot save overdone sci-fi adventure themes and a story that ultimately disconnects the audience from the characters we’ve grown to love. That’s not to say that overall this is a bad sequel. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a decent sequel. But is a Thor: Love and Thunder level sequel really what we should expect from Marvel moving forward in this Phase? Because I want more Thor: Ragnarok level sequels, Shang-Chi surprises, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever emotions. The only thing that shrank here is my super hero sized expectations. And at this stage of the MCU game, decent is disappointing. Marvel can and should have done better.
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Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the third sequel to Ant-Man and the kick off for Marvel Phase 5, flies into theaters starting Friday, February 17, 2023. Will your family be watching?
I was invited to screen Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania film in exchange for this Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Disney/Marvel. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!
John says
Is gods name paired with d word ?
christie says
Yes, there is one phrase in the movie that states “g-d d@mn”