Film Review - Wonder Woman ★★★★
Thursday, June 08, 2017A film of wonder, there's a lot of power in this new addition to the superhero universe. We've seen a rise in the genre over the past few years, but never female focus and pure badass-ness like this...until now.
Woah. Wonder Woman, what a wonderful addition to my film life. All the reviews have been gushing and they're mostly right to, because there's so much fun in this action-packed 2 hour 20 minute supermovie. In fact, I wanted to watch this so badly over the opening weekend that I practically forced my friend to watch it just one day after he'd already seen it. Sure, it's not perfect by any stretch (could there BE any more slow-mo shots?), but I think expectations were low following mixed reviews of DC's Batman v. Superman and Suicide Squad. I've forgiven some shortcomings because I left the cinema a little bit in love with Chris Pine and with a big gal crush on Gal Gadot.
After Wonder Woman aka Diana, Princess of the Amazons, made a more-than-cameo appearance in Batman v. Superman, we go back to her roots on the island of Themyscira and her race of warrior women created to stop war. (I definitely got flashbacks of Moana.) Yep, it's a superhero film so run with it. Mythical gods Zeus and Ares (god of war) are involved in the backstory. The island is hidden but not impossible to reach, and as spy Steve Trevor (Pine) ends up washed up on the beachy shores in the middle of World War One, Diana leaves with him to attempt to stop the war. Watching 'Diana Prince' navigate human life for the first time is amusing, as there are both some obvious and smart little jokes that warrant a laugh. We even get a good old costume change/outfit decision scene. What happens next is a mixture of fantastic fast-paced and slower chapters that build up to a slightly less impactful third act, but it still left me on the edge of my seat and pretty emotional afterwards.
We can't have a review without talking about Gal Gadot. She's fierce, vulnerable, graceful, powerful, funny, empathetic, and has been well received as a believable Wonder Woman. She's likeable, her smiles are earnest and her looks of wonderment and steely determination will give you the (good) shivers, as will her sweeping floor kicks. Given that I've only ever seen her in the Fast and Furious films and spy comedy Keeping up with the Joneses, and that she doesn't actually have too many films under her belt, Gadot eases into the crimson boots and centre stage...with such ease.
WW's origins story is pretty standard, with a few mandatory twists and a stand-out scene in No Man's Land. (She's not a man, geddit?) You'll get goosebumps when you hear the music for the first time here, but it's later overplayed just a tad. What's nice is that the standard love interest story doesn't feel forced, thanks to the amazing chemistry between Gadot and Pine. They make a pretty good team. There's a wider ensemble when the mission crew is put together, but if the A-Team are A Grade, this has gotta be a C or D. Continuing the trend of less impressive characters, the 'villainy' of the piece in the form of evil general Erich Ludendorff (Danny Huston) or mad scientist Doctor Poison (Elena Anaya) feels a bit caricature-ish and unconvincing at times.
This is a film that leaves the spotlight on heroism and love without being too corny. Gal Gadot is perfectly matched for this role, able to capture the softness and strength equally. This could well be a turning point for DC as we look ahead to the Justice League film; I expect I'll be watching Wonder Woman again and again and again in the meantime.
Wonder Woman is in cinemas now.
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