2017’s ‘Wonder Woman’ had all the right moves. Carrying the weight of not just a franchise but an entire film division (some of her spandex-clad coworkers from the DC Universe were smarting from slightly less than well received solo efforts), the flick blasted right out of the gate and never let up; a smart, entertaining and power packed punch.
A sequel was inevitable. And unfortunately, so was the disappointment that sometimes comes from the comparison game.
Now, let me say, I liked the sequel, ‘Wonder Woman 1984’….I really did. As a follow-up, it’s serviceable – and writing that last word, I’m not sure if it’s an overly fitting one to describe just how fun this movie CAN be. It’s just the inconsistency in this long anticipated thrill ride (darn you, COVID) that knocks our likable hero down a few notches.
While the first ‘Wonder Woman’ was based during World War I, ‘1984’ finds Diana (Gal Gadot), a.k.a. WW, ageless Amazonian goddess, in…..yep, you guessed it, ya sleuth….1984, surrounded by the neon glitz n’ greed of a decade of excess; the perfect playground for the story’s antagonist, Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) a con artist telemarketer who secures a magical ancient artifact that grants wishes. Obviously, that’s a dangerous item to plant in the wrong hands. Oh, and in the spirit of overly ambitious superhero sequels, we double up on the baddies in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’, as Kristen Wiig hams it up as a mousy archaeologist who eventually transforms into furry DC supervillain, Cheetah. Wiig puts in a pretty good effort, though the costume and makeup department doesn’t do the poor lady a whole lot of favors on the home stretch…..I imagine she’s supposed to look imposing, but ridiculous is more like it, a deranged escapee from the cast of ‘Cats’.
Chris Pine returns as well, reprising his role as Steve Trevor, the dashing love interest of Diana. Steve died in the original. How this is even possible, I won’t get into – I mean, anything is possible in a movie based on a comic book series….though, I’m not overly sure it was a necessary thread. Always good to see Pine, but his chemistry with Gadot had a lot more fire the first time out. Here, his presence is a novelty.
But again…and thanks primarily to Gadot, who is SO good at this stuff….’Wonder Woman 1984′ isn’t terrible. A little too predictable and plodding, yeah. But enough good stuff to build off for a third outing, for sure.
…oh yeah, there’ll be a third. And here’s hoping we get to enjoy it in a theater.
