Movie Review: Wonder Woman 1984

Wonder Woman has returned for her ‘80s adventure.

Thanks to Cinemark, my daughter and I got a chance to see the world premiere of the new Wonder Woman 1984 ten days before it releases worldwide on Christmas Day and it is definitely is a brightly-colored delight! More than a year after its original release date and multiple delays, Wonder Woman 1984 is here! Actor Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins' second Wonder Woman movie is definitely a joy and much needed during the holiday season.

In Wonder Woman 1984, the fate of the world is once more on the line, and only Wonder Woman can save it. This new chapter in the Wonder Woman story finds Diana Prince living quietly among mortals in the vibrant, sleek 1980s—an era of wanting to have it all. Though she’s come into her full powers, she maintains a low profile, curating ancient artifacts and only performing her superheroic acts incognito. But now, Diana will have to step directly into the spotlight and muster all her wisdom, strength, and courage in order to save mankind from a world of its own making.

The movie doesn’t tap into 80’s music, instead, colorful outfits and locations, big hair, and beige offices bring us into the era. Gadot and Pine are as fun to watch in the 80s colorful setting. They even manage to bring Wonder Woman's most ridiculous gadget into this cinematic universe, giving the movie a warm emotional grounding as Lord goes on a wish-granting power trip and events become increasingly chaotic.

Alongside Gadot, Kristen Wiig was pretty solid as “Cheetah”. With the plot we all have seen from the previews, she made a nice transition in her performance in becoming this villain. I also thought that Pedro Pascal did a good job as “Maxwell Lord”. Chris Pine also gave a nice performance too, although he seemed to shine more in his funny moments. His chemistry with Gadot picked up right where it left off from the first film.

The biggest plus for Wonder Woman 1984 is Gal Gadot. She absolutely owns this role without question. She seems both comfortable and authentic as our beloved superhero. Despite being a demi-goddess, Gal did a wonderful job of humanizing the Amazonian princess. When you combine Gal’s delivery and Patty Jenkins’ writing and directing, the character of Diana progresses in a meaningful way that really keeps audiences attached and engaged with her character. Another highlight for Wonder Woman 1984 comes from the many comic references and callbacks. A number of moments serve as a nice surprise and delight for fans that know of Diana’s history. I specifically appreciated the increased usage of the Lasso of Truth. This film gives it much more variety and significance compared to the previous movie. A chunk of the movie doesn't have major action sequences though which I always want, but the characters are all so engaging you won't get bored. And when the action comes, they are great! Diana's powers offer plenty of visual variety, while composer Hans Zimmer uses her epic theme music to get your adrenaline pumping.

There are certainly a few ragged edges. It’s a little long and the plot falls a little short to me towards the end, but it is also a charming end to a difficult year we all have had. I think it’s an exceptional sequel primarily based on it showing us the next step in the evolution of Wonder Woman. That’s essentially what we want sequels to do; to progress the main character. So you know what, bring on the cheesy ending! 

I give my favorite superhero Wonder Woman 1984 ... 4/5 stars! If you’ve seen it, let me know your thoughts. Happy Holidays everyone! -xo Mel