Every year Marvel's cinematic universe expands. The expansion not only means adding more character, but also stuffing the films with more and more characters. The apex of this overindulgence may come in next summer's "Captain America: Civil War," but audiences got a preview with this summer's "Avengers: Age of Ultron."

It seems that the old super hero movie, a mythological telling of a protagonist's journey through change and transformation, might be a thing of the past.

Or, maybe it will just be reserved for origin stories, such as the latest "Ant-Man." The latest Marvel movie is certainly not the most original of films (the film seems to recognize it), but it does what the overstuffed, self-indulgent spectacles cannot do.

The film gets off to a quick start with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) battling over the rights to keep his Ant-Man formula in 1989. In a quick move to the present, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), the protagonist, takes a punch, a sign of departure from prison but an initiation to the world he is returning to. From there, the ex-con is repeatedly punched down by everyone around him. His Baskin Robbins boss. His ex-wife.

Until, of course, he opts for returning to his criminal ways and happens upon the Ant-Man suit during a burglary of Pym's home. He is then coaxed into donning the suit and become a hero.

Why? While Lang becomes the Ant-Man (there is even a conventional training montage), Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) is preparing his Yellow Jacket experiment to create his own version of the Ant-Man experience. Once Pym's mentor, Cross has always felt rejected by his mentor and has wanted to top him. However, he is in liege with a dangerous group of people that might harness the power for good. Pym wants Lang to steal the Yellow Jacket experiment and free the world from the danger brewing the labs.

The unwinds in rather predictable manner with Rudd's charm not only adding levity, but often breaking the fourth wall. At one crucial moment when the plan is proposed to him, he tells Pym that they should "call in the Avengers." When he does crucially run into an Avenger, he makes mention of his fandom. During an emotional moment between two characters, he breaks up the tenderness of the moment, bringing attention to its overwrought emotions.

Michael Douglas brings a dominant presence to the film, his calm and demeanor dominating throughout while Evangeline Lily slowly unveils a delicate interior behind a tough exterior as Pym's daughter Hope. Corey Stoll is rather stoic and intimidating as Cross.

Filmgoers will also get a kick out of Michael Pena's antics as Luis. The character seems to be trying so hard to impress, making him delightful in his exaggeration.

The film admittedly loses its way in the final acts with the supposed instability of Cross's mind turning out rather confusing and distracting. It is a subtle detail but it is brought up a few times and winds up feeling forced in rather than an organic part of the character's development. Ant-Man's final journey also lacks the transcendence that one might expect, ultimately turning into a minor speed bump rather than a transformative moment for the hero.

All in all, "Ant-Man" is an enjoyable superhero movie that is loyal to the genre tropes while still managing to have some fun at their expenses. This is far from a revolutionary Marvel movie, but it is as enjoyable as the best of them. Sometimes, conventional is the way to go. "Ant-Man" proves why.

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