Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) Film Review: Both Fresh And Dated As The 80's In A Good Way...

After many months of lockdowns, the theatres in my city have opened up again since the summer. So, what was the first film I watch in theatres for 2021? Well, it ain't "Tom & Jerry", that's for sure. No, instead I decided to finally watch the long-awaited and polarized sequel to the 2017 blockbuster, "Wonder Woman". I didn't care if it was great or awful, I just wanted to watch a big movie on the big screen and it was a very satisfying experience. More than sixty years has passed since WWI and Diana Prince continues to hide from the world both as Wonder Woman and as herself. When the Smithsonian comes across a mystical artifact known as the Dreamstone, a cursed gem that can grant wishes with a heavy cost, Diana secretly wishes for her deceased lover, Steve Trevor, to come back. While the wish does work, she has become weaker as a result, which is poor timing when a co-worker of hers and a con-man both used the stone to achieve power and potential catastrophic destruction while doing so. The story itself is honestly not that bad as I was kept engaged by the character interactions and rising stakes, despite the lack of action. Yeah, the Dreamstone is an odd plot device and the powers are a bit weird, but it's not that hard to grasp compared to many other elements in notable films or television series. One thing that people have taken note with is the tone. The first film was gritty in its setting and the action set-pieces with the WWI backdrop and the equipment Diana uses in that story. Here, the sequel is not only more lighthearted, but somewhat goofy at times. It's clearly paying homage to both the golden era of the character and the Richard Donner "Superman" films, which does really work for this character and 80's setting. However, I can see how people can be turned off by the sudden shift in tone, which is understandable if one wanted a far more realistic approach to the character. 

Gal Gadot as Diana manages to improve in every appearance as she gets more comfortable in the role. Her accent is not as distracting and I also like the arc she is given to show how she's both flawed and imperfect as a hero and individual. Chris Pine as Steve is fun and wholesome as he gets reintroduced into the modern era. While the circumstances of the character's return is questionable in approach, it does work for the overall moral of the film, which is that life is hard and you just have to move on and be true to yourself. Kristen Wiig as Barbara Minerva/The Cheetah is criticized for her arc being the cliched geek-turned-supervillain due to her rival status with the hero seen in films like "Batman Forever" and "The Amazing Spider-Man 2". However, I actually enjoyed Wiig's performance and character for the most part as she convincingly plays the outcast and the strong, sexy diva who becomes a bit self-absorbed. It's only when she turns into Cheetah that the character is diminished, even though it's only for the third act. The best performance though has got to be Pedro Pascal as Maxwell Lord, a failing business tycoon who uses the Dreamstone's power to bring him good fortune in the hopes to be a good example to his son. Pascal plays the part with so much charisma and sincerity that it's hard not to smile when he is onscreen. While some have complained about his heel-shift turn moment in the end, I personally think it works for the overall theme of the film and is far different from just straight up killing the villain, akin to most superhero films. There aren't really any side characters to bring up, aside from the established Amazon mentors from Diana's past in the opening scene and Maxwell's son, but the whole cast either act really good or ham it up when they need to.

Patty Jenkins continues to shine as a prominent director with her sense of scale and vision. While the first film is effective at showing the beauty and uniqueness of the Amazons and Themyscira contrast to war-torn Europe and the violent bloodshed WWI has created, she allows the sequel to be both light-hearted and dire in the 80's setting with the Cold War still being a looming threat. Unlike "Stranger Things", the film doesn't glorify in the 80's pop culture much and only uses the setting to poke fun, admire and cleverly use the Cold War tension in the story. While the aesthetic and hue is far brighter and vivid compared to the first film with Diana's colourful costume and the bright exterior and interior environments in contrast to the overuse of grey and dirt in WWI, it's not overkill in my opinion and it perfectly reflects the tone and era it's set in. Colours do get muted as the situation in Washington gets more dire, so it doesn't leave out too much of the established hue. The cinematography by Matthew Jensen is just as great from the first film, but is more experimental in placing and spacing, especially in the varied settings of Themyscira, Washington D.C, and Cairo. It can be both grand and cinematic, but also indie and small-scale at the same time. The music by Hans Zimmer is great with the action and dramatic music cues being energizing and powerful. While it's not one of his strongest or most memorable contributions in film, it's still a solid demonstration from the talented composer. The visual effects isn't the most polished, considering the film's inspirations of the Donner films and the overall tonal shift, but it's not awful CGI. It just makes certain scenes and shots goofy in execution such as Diana running or the exaggerated lasso movements. The action sequences are pretty fun for the most part as Diana uses her tiana and lasso rather than a sword and shield in combat. Some people might prefer the more gritty and brutal aspect of her abilities, particularly in the first film, but I find the action scenes to be good, regardless if it's just tossing people around. While the action sequences seem to get better and better as the film progresses, the final battle between Diana and Cheetah is extremely underwhelming. From the goofy design of the feline villain, to the lowered sense of scale, to the very dark environment, it makes the climax of "Venom" look like the "Battle of Wakanda" from "Avengers: Infinity War". Despite the underwhelming final battle, it doesn't mean that Jenkins and the overall filmmaking is extremely competent.

"Wonder Woman 1984" is frankly a really good follow-up and entry for the iconic female superhero. While there are some issues in relation to the shift of tone, the Dreamstone as a plot device, the effects, and the final battle with Cheetah being problematic at times, I actually managed to stay invested in the film. This is mainly from the riveting story and moral, the tone being enjoyable regardless of how different it is, Gadot and Pine are wholesome as a onscreen duo, Wiig and Pascal are great as individual villains with understandable motives and personalities, Jensen's cinematography is gorgeous at times much like the previous film, Zimmer's score seems effortless in its execution, the actions sequences are hectic and creative for the most part, and Jenkin's directing uses the 80's setting to both have a pleasant yet grounded aesthetic with the advancement of society and the Cold War along with the downplaying elements of the pop culture references that take over majority of films and shows set during that decade. Could the film have been far better? Of course. But, is it really as bad as disgruntled fans make it out to be? Obviously no.

Verdict: 7.5/10. A pretty good superhero adventure, but one that could have been more balanced for various fans and viewers. Check it out in theatres if possible or on streaming services!