Is M.O.D.O.K. The Real Problem?
Image Source: Wired
It’s fair to say that the reception to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has been mixed, to say the least. Issues with plot, direction, writing, and general VFX have abounded, but one point seems to come up time and time again. Everyone’s (apparently least) favourite Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing – M.O.D.O.K. Much like ‘Big Face’ himself – the results haven’t been pretty. However, is M.O.D.O.K really that bad, or is this just the straw that broke the tardigrade’s back?
Quantumania’s tone could charitably be described as all over the shop. At points, it ostensibly has the comedic beats that we love and expect from the series. But then shoehorns in drama and introduces Kang – who the House of Mouse is trying to set up as this terrifying, unstoppable villain. The level to which the film achieves either of these is a subject for a different article. However, this dichotomous tone does epitomise this personification of M.O.D.O.K. He is teed up to be an unstoppable, feelingless Terminator-esque figure…but then we see his tiny naked butt and dangly legs. Whatever you think about it, it does fit in this film.
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On this topic, it’s fair to say that M.O.D.O.K, by his very central conceit – is a ridiculous character. Like every Marvel character, he has been involved in comic book runs of varying quality, but at the end of the day, he is a giant head on a tiny body that fires pink lasers. Adapting this to fit into the RELATIVELY (and those caps are deliberate) more grounded version of the MCU. The use of his battle mask-type faceplate is a pretty good nod to how the character is more traditionally seen in comics. Previously, Marvel changed Arnim Zola from looking like an evil Teletubby, but it could be argued that Winter Soldier was a better film, so people were more forgiving of this change. It feels like this “giant, bald head” approach was more played for laughs than anything else. A common complaint for Marvel in recent years.
Corey Stoll is a tremendous actor. He was great in House of Cards. Fantastic in Midnight in Paris and even was great as the villainous Darren Cross in the OG Ant-Man. His acting in this is no better or worse than any of the other talented actors in this piece. Arguably he did the best with the quality of dialogue and writing that he had.
Image Source: Gamespot
The VFX quality in this film is broadly poor. However, M.O.D.O.K. is just as good as any of the rest of it. But to paraphrase Janet Van Dyne in this Quantumania – THERE IS SIMPLY NO TIME TO GO INTO THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. In essence, it’s easy to hate on M.O.D.O.K in this film, and while he certainly isn’t a highlight of the MCU. There are bigger issues that need to be dealt with in the MCU right now than his beautiful, big, bald bonce.
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