Marvel's first heist flick, and most broadly comedic offering yet, is agile and entertaining despite its conventional superhero origin story. This result comes as a relief after the departure of original writer-director Edgar Wright, who left the project after several years of development just before shooting began. His replacement, Peyton Reed, manages to balance the humor with well-edited break-in sequences and miniaturized set-pieces featuring solid special effects.

Anchoring the action, whether as cat burglar Scott Lang or his Ant-Man alter-ego, is a dedicated Paul Rudd, finally given the leading man cache he has earned through years of hilarious smaller roles. This time, it is Rudd's supporting cast that steals the show, as Michael Douglas commands the screen whenever present as the original Ant-Man, and Michael Peña delivers multiple brilliant line-readings as a fast-talking San Franciscan thief.

With an inventive, unserious take on this lesser-known character, Marvel has added another winner to its menagerie of superhero properties. In addition, the studio smartly uses the film to develop its own larger cinematic universe, setting the stage for Ant-Man's incorporation into the upcoming Captain America: Civil War (2016), while simultaneously introducing another hero as well. The film works by knowing its place in the pecking order and, like Lang in action, gets in and out with sly efficiency.

Final Grade: B | 86/100 | ★★★