QR FILM REVIEW: WONDER WOMAN 1984
It’s no secret that DC have hit a few rough patches in their recent cinematic adventures. When Wonder Woman first took to our screens in 2017, many thought this would be a turning point in the ongoing battle between the MCU and DC Extended Universe. Unfortunately, Wonder Woman 1984 may have set the course of another sinking ship.
The sequel picks up around six decades after the events of the first movie. Diana is thriving in Washington D.C., balancing her job at the Smithsonian and stopping the occasional petty crime under the alias of Wonder Woman. We are introduced to her co-worker, the clumsy and socially excluded Barbara Minerva (played by Kristen Wiig). As their friendship begins to blossom, several new artefacts arrive at the museum, including an unusual rock. After Diana makes a wish that comes true, it becomes apparent that this ancient relic has the power to grant wishes to anyone who touches it, drawing the attention of Maxwell Lord (played by Pedro Pascal). The forlorn, down-on-his-luck Lord uses the rock to gain immeasurable power, pushing humanity to the edge of destruction and forcing Diana to make a difficult decision where the fate of the world is in her hands once again.
On the surface, the plot of Wonder Woman 1984 isn't far different from the first movie. In both films Diana comes up against a power-hungry man who seeks to destroy the world with war or the greedy nature of humanity. For what it’s worth, Wonder Woman 1984 does deliver an exciting story, but it’s clear that the creative team were reluctant to stray from the formula that worked so well with their big box office success in 2017.
If there’s one thing that’ll please fans, it’s the pleasure of seeing Gal Gadot return to the character of Diana Prince. After a highly successful first standalone film, it’s safe to say that fans are on her side. Gadot radiates heroism in the iconic red and gold outfit, it’s almost as if she was born for the role. The strength and power that radiates from her performance is reminiscent of Robert Downey Jr’s franchise-saving performance as Iron Man in the MCU. Iron Man 2 is not the best of the trilogy, so perhaps this is also a promising start to the redemption of the DCEU.
We meet a lot of new faces but a stand out performance for me was the unexpected Kristen Wiig’s. Fans of Wiig will recognise her as a hilarious powerhouse SNL alum and movies like Bridesmaids. However, her performance here is a lot more reminiscent of her more serious work in films like The Skeleton Twins. Although the trope of the ‘ugly nerd transformation’ is more than overused at this stage, Wiig delivers an entertaining performance which matches Gadot’s strong characterisation. Pedro Pascal's Maxwell Lord strikes a good balance between charming and terrifying, but neither he nor Wiig fill the boots of the clear, dominant antagonist that a comic book adaptation needs.
Pine's return as Steve Trevor, as hinted in the trailer, delighted fans but the circumstances have raised some questions. Despite the hefty 151-minute running time, many unanswered questions about the fulfilment of wishes remain. Although it was a delight to see Pine and Gadot bounce off each other again, it does feel like his return was there only as a plot point because their chemistry was so compelling before. His appearance certainly appeases fans who were distraught at his demise in the first film, but the creators, recognising their success last time, simply recreate what worked before (with little extra creativity) to break our hearts all over again.
If there’s one thing the creators did get right in this sequel, it’s the gorgeous cinematography. Alongside the creative combat choreography, these elements get the credit for breathing life into this otherwise copy and pasted film. The soundtrack brings a necessary depth of feeling to the more heroic scenes, but I was slightly disappointed. In a time when 80’s nostalgia seems to be everywhere, with franchises like Stranger Things and IT reboots topping box offices and ratings, the 1984 tagline doesn’t quite deliver the same punch. The settings, costumes, references, and music really could have been a lot cheesier and, well, 80’s. Not to mention the choice of year led me to believe we would see some element of ‘Big Brother’ or the ‘Thought Police’ put in place, but alas, no.
It may not have the refreshing spark that 2017’s Wonder Woman had, but compared to other sequels the DCEU has offered, Wonder Woman 1984 holds its own as a relatively solid follow-up. It’s safe to say they definitely played it safe with this one, but there’s still enough excitement to satisfy DCEU and Wonder Woman fans alike. Here’s hoping Gadot’s Diana Prince lives to see another film.