My satellite provider started showing the much delayed (and much maligned) Wonder Woman 1984 this week. The film seems to contradict much of Superman V. Batman and Justice League, as we were lead to believe that Diana Prince stayed out of the limelight after her time at the end of World War I. But that's not quite the case. In 1984 Washington, D.C., Wonder Woman saves the innocent. But the Amazonian princess does her best to stay anonymous, often telling those few who do spot her to keep mum about her. Her muted presence will be tested when megalomaniac Maxwell Lord comes into contact with a cursed gem that can grant wishes. As Lord uses the wishes of others to become more and more powerful, Diana unknowingly revives her long dead only love, Steve Trevor. But her wish comes at a cost, as her desires result in Wonder Woman's loss of invulnerability.
Also making wishes for herself is the wallflower, Barbara Minerva. Now blessed with strength and confidence, Barbara finally starts to stand-up for herself. But it is at the cost of her humanity and good will towards others. As both Maxwell Lord and Minerva gain in power, Diana falters in her attempts to stop the pair. But in order to do so, Wonder Woman will once again have to sacrifice her happiness.
I liked WW84 a lot more than I liked the first film. Maybe it's because 1984 is a year smack dab in my childhood. So possibly there's more nostalgia than actual enjoyment here. Clocking in a 2.5 plus hours, this is a lengthy film. There are several scenes that I don't think we needed, like an opening scene from Diana's childhood trials on Themyscira. But the extra scene in the middle of the credits- that was a surprise that was coming for a very, very long time!
There were quite a few humorous elements to this movie. Gal Gadot and Chris Pine have great chemistry together; much to comedic effect. Gadot's interactions with Kristen Wiig as Barbara Minerva, before her fall from grace, were rather good too. And Pedro Pascal's role as conman businessman Maxwell Lord is very good. He's slimy just like in the comics. Although, I've never pictured Lord as a Latin Lothario. Max's creators have always aimed at him being a trumped up, um well, Trump. And while Pedro Pascal does seem to have the hair down pat- this guy just isn't a native New Yorker.
As I said earlier, this film has had it's haters. I'm not one of them. But I feel that this film had it's flaws. Along with being about 25 minutes too long, director Patty Jenkins falls into that trap once again of using slow motion during the fight scenes. Now, that super slo-mo isn't as frequently used as in the first movie. But the directors of the DC live action movies have got to say enough's enough with this oft used (and now worn-out) visual trope.
I also felt that the awesome concept of having wishes come true but with negative consequences was a very good way to use Maxwell Lord in this movie without him becoming Lord Havok. But the way things wrap up with an impassioned speech by Wonder Woman that inspires the world to renounce their wishes, it felt like a remake of The Wizard of Oz. And I hated that part.
Lastly, the ending itself. This has got to be the first super hero movie I've seen in which the baddies don't get what's coming to them. Lord seems to get a happy ending. And who knows where Barbara Minerva wound up. But it wasn't dead or in jail, I can tell you that. And not having justice served made the conclusion of this film seem unfinished.
We're supposed to have a third Wonder Woman film. The pandemic and the critics didn't seem to do too much to keep Warner Bros. from declaring a hit on their hands. But hopefully, the crew behind this film can learn from it's mistakes to make the third installment a flawless hit.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.
