There was only one seat left in the session of Mama Mia! Here We Go Again that I had driven to see at Tweed City. The trouble was it was in the very front row and This Paper does not pay me anywhere near enough to sit ten feet from the platinum-blonde humanoid creature still being referred to as Cher and the rest of those perfect-toothed cheery souls poncing around ersatz Greece – much as I love the songs of Abba. So, hoping for the best, I turned off my brain, followed the trail of popcorn and entered the world of Marvel, only to find that I had jumped from the frying pan into the fire. Honestly, these super-hero movies are getting stupider and stupider. The Ant-Man, Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd, whose acting career peaked when he was a regular on TV’s Friends), embarks on a mission that will take him into an insanely coloured other dimension, where he might connect with the long-dead wife of the still pining Dr Hank Pym (Michael Douglas). Joining Ant-Man is the Wasp, Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly). I liked the bit at the start where he was driving down a street in New York in his little Dinky car – it was mildly amusing and cleverly done, as were all of the scenes in which everything got shrunk with what amounted to a click of the fingers – but I simply could not engage with what was going on. Joining Douglas in the cast are some quality actors, including Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne, Bobby Cannavale and MichaelPeña, the fellow who always gets the part of the good-guy Latino who is sidekick to the Main Man. But a wasp? FFS! If it were meant to be funny, as was Deadpool 2, it might have been bearable, but the ‘drama’ is underpinned by philosophical poppycock.Therefore, the moral of the story is if you want to get a decent seat at cinema’s latest cash cow – get there early.
Cinema Review: Ant-Man And The Wasp
Latest News
Missing teen – Tweed Heads
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a boy reported missing from Tweed Heads.
Other News
Interview with Janet Swain
Janet Swain is 14. She’s in love with the tragic and brilliant cellist Jacquleine DuPré. But one day her mother arrives home with a bassoon.
Senior players triumph at Cherry Street Croquet Club
The experience combination of Joan Campbell (92 years young) and Elaine Astley (89) were able to beat the field and collect a win in the Cherry Streety Twilight Golf Croquet Plate Competition held at Ballina.
Storylines: Uluru Statement from the Heart
The 'Uluru Statement from the Heart' seeks constitutional reform to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to have a say and be involved over matters that impact their lives.
‘Groundhog Day’ shifts Splendour to November
Splendour in the Grass 2021 organisers say that Groundhog Day jokes aside, the festival will be rescheduled for a late spring edition, from Friday 19 to Sunday 21 November.
Ministers misbehave
Keith Duncan, Pimlico
Accusations of appalling behaviour by the Liberal Party in covering up misdeeds within its ranks just keep...
Ballina Shire Council meeting wrap-up
The last Ballina meeting was another bruising encounter for some councillors, though there were several unanimous decisions too.
Previous articleReady for commercial expansion?
Next articleHistorical rotunda
Support The Echo
Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.
Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

Local News
Forum to address housing emergency, March 8
Paul Bibby - 0
A grassroots movement is bringing women, community and art together on International Women’s Day (March 8) in an urgent push to solve the local housing emergency.
Local News
Bangalow blackspot puts school children at risk
Paul Bibby - 1
Will action ever be taken to protect school kids getting on and off the bus on Lismore Road, Bangalow as trucks fly by at 80km/h?
Local News
Lifting the lid on plans to build a retirement village in Ewingsdale
Paul Bibby - 1
The letter sent to the residents of Ewingsdale last year by holiday park owner Ingenia seemed fairly innocuous at first glance...
Local News
Byron’s new road: the good and not so
After more than 30 years of talk, debate, disagreements, tears and political gridlock, Byron Bay has a new road to divert traffic from the CBD to the southern end of town.