Everything you need to know before seeing 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania'

• 'Ant-Man 3' is the kickoff to MCU's fifth phase
• It helps to watch Disney+ series 'Loki' ahead of time
• The movie gives off major 'Star Wars' vibes

"Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" is the 31st entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it serves as the kickoff to the franchise’s fifth phase. "Serves" is the key word because all this installment does is set up what comes next in terms of new characters and storylines. To quote the franchise’s new supervillain, Kang the Conqueror: "It’s never over."

Not that I want it to be finished, either. I am still keeping track, but this movie takes bombast and chaos to extremes, especially with this heavy sci-fi focus on multiverses, variants, incursions and more metaphysical jargon. Following a Marvel movie should not require an ounce of brainpower. These are not think pieces. The two previous "Ant-Man" entries, both directed by Peyton Reed, have upheld the adage that "good things come in small packages." They were built less on spectacle and more on the charm, cuteness and comedic timing of Paul Rudd, aka Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man. This movie, also directed by Peyton, does the impossible, squandering Rudd’s appeal as the jailbird turned shrinking superhero.

Casual fans will struggle to follow along, especially if they missed the Disney+ series "Loki," which sheds light on the convoluted plot of "Quantumania." So, to bring those folks up to speed, Scott and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lily, aka Wasp) and their blended family − her parents, Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne (Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer) and Scott's teenage daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton) − find themselves sucked into a galaxy far, far away, "outside time and space."

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This trippy subatomic world gives off major "Star Wars" vibes. George Lucas has every right to ring up his attorneys. Characters drink colorful cocktails in lively pubs populated with creatures resembling castoffs from Mos Eisley Cantina. They travel via spaceships and fire blasters at each other. Jonathan Majors turns up as Kang, a Sith-like evil emperor. A version of that character was introduced in "Loki." The rebels are led by Jentorra (Katy M. O’Brian), a fierce female warrior. Her telepathic sidekick, Quaz (William Jackson Harper), helps fill some of the movie’s humor void.

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Upon landing in the Quantum Realm, the group is separated. Scott and Cassie end up in the hands of the rebels. Hope, Hank and Janet work with the latter’s old associates to get help finding the others. Remember, Janet was trapped in the realm for 30 years, and apparently she was very popular down there. Kang the Conqueror, who is even more evil than Thanos, has other ideas. He needs those elusive Pym particles to power up his multiverse-hopping ship so he can leave the Quantum Realm and get on with screwing up multiple worlds and timelines. Obi Wan … err … Ant-Man and his old thieving skills are Kang’s only hope, so he backs the superhero into a corner and forces him to help.

"Quantumania’s" best moments belong to Rudd, who entered the MCU in 2015. Throughout his run as Ant-Man, he has been game for anything. No difference here. After a pre-title sequence, the movie opens with Rudd’s Scott adorably strolling down a San Francisco street, fist-bumping and taking selfies with dogs as John Sebastian’s theme song to "Welcome Back Kotter" plays. Scott is in a happy post-Blip phase of his life.

"It’s been a crazy few years," he says in voiceover before the camera arrives at a bookstore where Scott reads passages aloud from his memoir, "Look Out for the Little Guy!"

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Over the course of the film, Jeff Loveness’ script offers a few surprises that I will not spoil. What’s obvious, though, is that Marvel has cast a compelling villain in Majors, who gave an acclaimed turn in last year’s historical drama "Devotion." As Kang, the "monster who thinks he’s a god," Majors is all might and menace. The force is definitely strong with this one.

'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania'

Rating: PG-13 for some sci-fi action violence

Running time: 122 minutes

Director: Peyton Reed

Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Kathryn Newton, William Jackson Harper, Katy O'Brian

Writer: Jeff Loveness

Where to watch: In theaters

Grade: C+