A One Mann’s Movies review of “Wonder Woman 1984” (2020).
Bob the Movie Man’s Rating:
Certification:
US: PG-13. UK: 12A.
The long delayed release of the Wonder Woman sequel – WW:84 – has finally happened, and it is well worth waiting for.
A WTF of a Trailer.
Of all of the trailers shown for 2020 movies, not one piqued my curiosity more than this one. It was clear that the fabulous Gal Gadot would reprise her role as the Amazonian beauty (and then some). But there was Chris Pine back as Steve Trevor from the first film! I mean… WTF?? Just HOW?? (A McGuffin is involved… but no spoilers here!).
What?? How?? Diana (Gal Gadot) and Steve (Chris Pine) reunited. Perhaps there was a pile of cushions under that exploding plane, eh?. (Source: Warner Brothers).
Let’s summarise what we can about Wonder Woman 2 without spoilers.
Set 70 years after the first film, Diana Prince is working at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington alongside a kooky ‘nobody’ researcher Barbara (Kristen Wiig): the department’s doormat that nobody notices or takes seriously. But somebody does take notice of her: charismatic entrepreneur (DEFINITELY not Donald Trump) and TV personality (still DEFINITELY not Donald Trump) Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal). Lord has mysteriously become a benefactor of the department, but does he have an ulterior motive? The answer leads civilisation itself to the brink of destruction.
Yes, I know he’s in the White House here, but he’s STILL not Donald Trump, honestly. (Source: Warner Brothers).
Acting honours all round.
Gal Gadot is simply stunning to watch. A thing of beauty – like Beethoven’s 3rd or a Turner painting. (I know it’s not all about looks, but personality, sense of humour and good judgement…. so we won’t mention the “Imagine” video!) A scene where she emerges from a car into a gala dinner has her showing so much leg than it suddenly makes a Barbie doll’s pins look unrealistic! Comically this has every male head turning, and justifiably so.
But Gadot is more than just looks and athleticism (demonstrated, for example, in a splendidly choreographed fight scene at the White House). She also holds the core of the film together with some genuinely good acting, particularly in two emotional scenes with Chris Pine‘s Steve Trevor.
Kristen Wiig also impresses, needing to display a real dynamic range from nerdy nobody to Alpha-female-to be-reckoned-with. We’re used to see her in light fluffy comedy roles, but here she has to extend beyond that. Her best performance in years.
And Pedro Pascal – now famous as the one behind the mask in “The Mandalorian” – deserves mention as the larger than life oil man going from rags to riches: a fine semi-comic performance, very knowing in its telling.
Stunning and athletic. Gal about town, Diana Prince runs down Pennsylvania Avenue. (Source: Warner Brothers).
Wonder Woman 1984 is a delicious roller-coaster ride.
The director and co-writer is the original WW director, Patty Jenkins (with Geoff Johns and Dave Callaham as the others behind the pen). She here delivers a popcorn blockbuster than has legs (over and above Gadot’s perfect specimens!). The Goblet-of-Fire-Potteresque pre-title sequence is thrilling and engaging. And the story builds cleverly through the first half of the movie. Above all, Jenkins injects heaps of HEART into the movie. As a result, this is not your run of the mill supervillain showdown flick. A tale not just of good vs evil, but of morals, truth and redemption. Although it’s a movie with TWO villains (normally a doom-laden premise for this reviewer… “Spider Man 3″…. shudder), here it really works well. Sure, there is a requirement for a firm suspension of belief, but – hey – it’s a DC movie. Go with it!
On a slight downside, the second half of the movie – for me – unfortunately didn’t quite live up to the promise of the first half. It blends “Bruce Almighty” with “Superman 2” and rather over-eggs the pudding.
Are they not worried about the STICKS?? Thank heavens this museum piece has a full tank of fuel, eh? (Source: Warner Brothers)
GO SEE IT! (If you can).
In a lockdown morass of B-pics, this sequel is one that is gorgeous to look at (Matthew Jensen‘s cinematography is superb), gorgeous to listen to (an epic score by Hans Zimmer) and is genuinely engaging. There’s also a nice vein of humour running through it… For example, when Kristen Wiig‘s character is in a park, a rough sleeper on a bench is reading “Waiting for Godot”…. or is it “Waiting for Gadot”?? It’s such a brief clip, I wasn’t sure! (If you’re reading this before watching the movie, can you watch out for it and comment please!)
Although I DEPLORE WarnerMedia’s decision to release their material in parallel to streaming, here is a movie that is MAGNIFICENT on the big screen and WELL WORTH you getting out to the cinema to see… assuming that you can find a UK cinema open (I saw this in the excellent Showcase De Lux in Southampton).
Highly Recommended.
Going for gold. The outfit on every cosplay girl’s wish-list this Christmas! (Source: Warner Brothers).
And watch out at the end.
If you are someone who dives for the exit at the first title… resist. There is an excellent and surprising mid-title “monkey” (see glossary!) featuring a wonderful cameo for us older folks!
Trailer:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfM7_JLk-84.
Great review! I agree with your comments. I thought it was brilliant. I was able to see it in the cinema. Unfortunately I think I was the only person who knew the significance of the film’s “monkey” in the cinema, but it really thrilled me!
I’ve read a lot of negative reviews about the film and I just don’t understand the hate personally.
Thanks Helen and a Happy Christmas to you.