For a character that has a long legacy rivaling Superman and Batman in comics history, it is really a wonder that a Wonder Woman movie took this long to finally happen. Thankfully though, it seems Wonder Woman just came at the right time for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).
Ever since jump-starting the DCEU with Man of Steel, DC has subsequently churned out critical failures with the poorly cut Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (which required a director’s cut follow-up) and the outright terrible Suicide Squad. Fortunately, Wonder Woman is actually enjoyable, and it’s the “savior” the DCEU needs.
One of my initial worries about this film, among many others, is Gal Gadot’s capability to sufficiently carry a lead role. Before being cast, she’s best known as Gisele in The Fast & Furious franchise, and at the time, her performance was decent at best, even for a supporting role. We got a taste of her performance as Wonder Woman in BvS, and surprisingly, she surpassed all my expectations and sold me on the fact she has, in fact, become Wonder Woman.
In Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot plays the Amazon warrior Princess Diana of Themyscira, daughter of Queen Hippolyta. Set during World War I, US Army Air Service Captain Steve Trevor crash lands on a paradise island inhibited by Amazons. He gets saved by Diana, who has never seen a man before, and nurses him back to health after a fight scene that’s ridiculously infested with slow-mo — which also gives us a taste of what’s to come in relation to battles — it rivals even The Matrix.
Diana insists on going to Man’s World (a fancier name for the outside world) with Steve to help fight the war against the Germans and finally bring peace, as she believes it’s her duty as an Amazon princess. She’s convinced the god of war, Ares, is the main cause of man’s anger and hatred for each other. And once she kills Ares, everything will return to normal.
The real magic of the film comes out when Diana finally gets paired with Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), and travels to Man’s World. Gal Gadot’s Diana is delightful; she interacts with the outside world demonstrating a pure innocence and naivety, much like a fish out of water, yet still oozes confidence. Plus, she and Steve’s chemistry is undeniable, and their relationship is one of the strongest points of the movie. Diana achieves her defining superhero moment in a memorable scene where she and Steve’s band of misfits cross No Man’s Land and frees the next town from enemies.
The setting and characters may call upon similarities to Captain America: The First Avenger. But as you watch along, these similarities are superficial at best, and Wonder Woman stands on its own. Director Patty Jenkins focused on characters rather than the big mindless action that’s rampant in the previous DC entries, not that this one doesn’t have that.
But of course, Wonder Woman has its fair share of flaws. It’s major one, however, is its runtime. The movie does have some bloat, which is most prominent in the final boss fight. Not to mention it’s a CGI-riddled battle that’s a bit excessive in its presentation. By the time it’s over, I can’t help but feel as exhausted as Diana over everything.
Nevertheless, Wonder Woman is a much better superhero film than all of DC’s previous entries combined. It has heart, actual characters and a coherent plot — things that were glaringly missing in the past. I’ve had some renewed faith in the DCEU after seeing this film, but it’s not enough for me to stop worrying about Zack Snyder’s upcoming Justice League movie.
Rating: ★★★★☆
The Talking Screen 