Wonder Woman 1984 Review

By Melissa Cintron

After Wonder Woman unveiled Diana Prince’s life journey from Amazonian princess to savior of mankind during World War I, the 2020 installment of Warner Brother’s  DC Extended Universe , WW 84, picks up with Diana (Gal Gadot) living a reclusive life during the Cold War.  In 1984, she is a resident of Washington D.C. and a curator at the Smithsonian Institute. Diana’s uneventful life is thwarted only by the occasional mall heist necessitating the anonymous intervention of her alter ego.  However, Diana’s life suddenly takes a turn for the interesting with the Smithsonian’s recent hire of gemologist, Dr. Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig).  Shrouded by a lifetime of awkwardness and insecurity, Minerva sets out to befriend Diana, who she perceives as the embodiment of all she is not. After Minerva is sought out to examine an artifact at the request of the FBI, Diana forgoes her reluctance to engage Minerva and offers to lend her a hand. 

Unbeknownst to them, the artifact, which originated with an ancient god, grants the desires of those who wish upon it while simultaneously taking something in return. Before learning about its powers, the artifact falls into the hands of Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascale), a television personality operating a Ponzi scheme. Aspiring to prove his greatness, Lord embarks on a journey of world domination by manipulating the narcissistic tendencies of world leaders and the common men alike.  Susceptible to human emotions herself, Diana must choose between relinquishing her one and only desire, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) or losing a world on the brink of nuclear destruction.

While Patty Jenkins’ highly anticipated sequel falls short of blockbuster, it does not disappoint. The screenplay, written by Jenkins, Dave Callahan and Geoff Johns, initially felt disjointed. After a slow start, including one too many scenes highlighting the excesses of 1980’s pop culture, the action finally begins to emerge. Nonetheless, because the plot is dominated by a weakened heroine, Jenkins’ battles, while well-choreographed, seemed lackluster with the exception of the final battle scene between Wonder Woman and Minerva’s Cheetah. 

Regarding performances, Jenkins does deliver. Gadot and Pine are consistent in their reprisals of the lead roles; their chemistry and vulnerability making their characters rekindled, impossible romance feel so believable. Wiig’s comedic background made her a logical choice to play a clumsy doormat turn high powered dominator. As for Pascale, he emerged from his recent role as a fully armored Mandalorian to successfully face the challenge of portraying a complex villain with quite the annoying maniacal laugh. 

So while WW 84 may not exactly replicate the success of its predecessor, it is still fun, aesthetically pleasing, and hopeful. After watching the development of Wonder Woman’s superpowers and with her kind, empathetic nature on full display in this film, a genuine interest exists to see where our heroine goes next.  Hoping its back to the big screen under Jenkins’ custody and control!

Wonder Woman 1984 is playing in theaters nationwide as well as on HBO Max