Delayed by COVID, the second Wonder Woman movie - WW84 - has finally been released to the public, both to those theaters now open to the public, and via the HBOMax streaming service. This movie had a lot to live up to - the first film remains the best of the new generation of DC films (though that's not exactly high praise) - hey, I enjoyed it - with some caveats.
Which brings us to the sequel. Unfortunately, there are lots of caveats this time around.
Set in 1984, we find an ageless Diana Prince working for the Smithsonian, fighting secretly as a superhero, and living a lonely existence, still mourning Steve Trevor, the love she lost during World War II World War I (thanks, Dwayne!)
When he somehow returns from the dead, a new menace appears at the same time - a mysteriously powerful tycoon, Max Lord, is causing strange events around the world, and a new colleague of Diana's - Dr. Minerva - is changing, too.
The biggest flaw in the movie is that, for most of the movie, the stakes are very low. The villain is just a greedy guy in a suit with an ill-defined power (played in a wonderfully hammy style by Pedro Pascal).
The story is full of holes that don't quite make sense. How is Steve alive? How can Steve fly a modern jet? How can that jet hold enough fuel to cross the Atlantic? Where are Diana's new abilities coming from?
The big problem is in the writing - the script just isn't compelling or coherent enough to justify the 2-and-a-half-hour running time.
There are lots of positives, of course. Gal Gadot is wonderful in the title role, and it's her charisma along the the star power of Chris Pine that carry the film. Kristen Wiig is also very good as the Cheetah (though it takes a while for her to get into that skin). It's a good-looking film, and the costumes evoke the time period. But the music seems to be the overlooked element that would have added a lot to the time period.
It's disappointing. The movie needed a stronger, more coherent script, and better opponents for the good guys.
Oh, and stick around for a nice mid-credits scene. It's worth waiting for.
Grade: B-
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