Wonder Woman 1984
Starring: Gal Gadot, Pedro Pascal, Kristin Wiig, Chris Pine
Directed By: Patty Jenkins
Rated: PG-13
I loved Patty Jenkins/Gal Gadot's 2017 installment of Wonder Woman. It was a crowd-pleaser with just the right amount of action and charm. I had a birthday party themed around the movie so I’d definitely classify myself as a big fan. With that being said, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the sequel for a long time now. It finally premiered on Christmas Day, and there’s certainly A LOT to discuss with this one.
Wonder Woman 1984 is set 66 years after the first film, following Diana Prince working as an anthropologist at the Smithsonian Museum by day. Then she dons the Wonder Woman to fight crime when the world needs her the most. When a mysterious ancient stone shows up at the Smithsonian, questions arise about its true origins. Diana’s co-worker Barbara (Kristin Wiig) is particularly drawn to the stone when she discovers it has the ability to grant your greatest wish. TV con man Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) wants the stone for himself when he hears of its power. The world of Wonder Woman and Diana Prince collide when the stone reveals itself to be something far more sinister than initially thought.
Right off the bat, I’ll say, WW84 doesn’t live up to the wonder of the first film. We’ll call it a case of sequelitis. (Or maybe the curse of 2020?) In general, the script is a mess, mostly because the majority of the plot revolves around a magic rock that grants wishes. (Seriously) This magic stone leads to a villainous con man to incite mass chaos throughout the world. Hard to believe that’s the best conflict the writers could come up with for such a high-stakes sequel. Diana is also not as powerful of a character this time around. In a movie about Wonder Woman, shouldn’t the focus should be on the superhero herself? Instead, she ends up taking a back seat to the stone and Max Lord’s “wishing hour.”
Despite WW84’s many flaws, there are still aspects of this movie I found entertaining. Although the way Steve Trevor returns is certainly questionable (many will find it uncomfortable), it’s great to see the two back together. They have wonderful on-screen chemistry. Although she has some detractors, I think Gal Gadot is the perfect fit as Diana/Wonder Woman. Diana’s quest for “truth” is the framework of the film and Gadot showcases that journey wonderfully. Seeing Steve navigate the 1980s makes for some great comic relief and is easily one of the film's highlights. It’s a nice flip of the script from the original Wonder Woman where Diana was the fish out of water in 1918. Now, Steve is the one amazed by the strange new world. Chris Pine is excellent in the film. He makes the most of each moment of his screen time.
Kristen Wiig also entertains as Barbara, a geologist who wishes to be beautiful and strong just like Diana. That wish comes at a price (and some very creative fashion choices!) Wiig is comedic, awkward, and eventually commanding in the role.
Pedro Pascal is a mixed bag as Maxwell Lord. He has moments of genuinely good comedic timing. His scenes with Kristen Wiig are particularly entertaining. Then there are moments of extremely over-the-top zany villainy. After hearing him yell “YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL” approximately 50 times, I started to get annoyed. I’ll give him this, he was committed to character.
The 1980s set and costume designing is fun and vibrant. Although, the filmmakers definitely should’ve incorporated more 80’s music in the soundtrack! The wardrobe choices fit well for the time period. One scene involving Steve picking an outfit stands out as a particularly memorable moment. I loved Diana’s battle armor for the final act of the film. It’s a shame the third act isn’t a bit stronger because the gold suit is such an awesome Wonder Woman look!
Wonder Woman 1984 has a messy script and choppy editing. As a Wonder Woman fan, I was entertained by Diana’s latest adventure but I can’t deny it’s a letdown compared to its stronger predecessor.
My Rating: 6/10