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Wonder Woman: Beauty, Brains and Brawn! (Movie Review)

Like George Washington once proclaimed “I cannot tell a lie.”  Wonder Woman is my number one most anticipated film of the year.  Say what?  I’m 100% serious and no I’m not on any drugs.  This is 80 plus years in the making here, folks!  I would be prone to say Justice League is, but I’m weary about how ridiculous Cyborg looks thus far.  Ha ha.  However, I’ll reserve judgement of that until November.  For now let me bask in the ever radiant light of everything Gal Gadot and the Amazonian princess she portrays, Wonder Woman.  Call me a sucker, but I just love a strong female protagonist in my action movies, and it doesn’t hurt if they’re hot too.  So you’ve all seen my proverbial masturbation over the three DCEU films that have come before, Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, and now it’s time to lasso up Wonder Woman.  Wouldn’t that be spectacular to lasso up Wonder Woman, huh (insert dirty evil thought)?  Ha ha.  Come on!  Let’s get started!

As I kind of mentioned up above Wonder Woman is the fourth installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).  It introduces us to how Wonder Woman came to be after American spy pilot Steve Trevor crashes on the island of Themyscira and tells Diana Prince all about World War I.  Diana believes this is the second coming of the God of War, Ares.  So long story short she leaves her home to try to stop the war and in the process you guessed it.  She goes on to become the “wonderful” woman we all knew she was destined to be.  The film is directed by Patty Jenkins (Monster, The Killing) from a screenplay written by Allan Heinberg and Geoff Johns, based off a story by Heinberg, Zack Snyder and Jason Fuchs.  Gal Gadot returns in the titular superhero role she embodied and made famous in last year’s Batman v. Superman.   In addition Wonder Woman stars Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, Elena Anaya, Lucy Davis, Saïd Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner and David Thewlis.

Since I am so passionate about this film I did a little more research on it than I usually do for others.  In doing so I found out two things that really made me go hmm to myself.  I personally love learning little behind-the-scenes tidbits like this.  First of all and much to my surprised I learned that Miss Jenkins actually pitched a Wonder Woman film to Warner Bros. some ten years ago, but they said no due to the fact the viewing audience was male dominated.  Oh my how things have changed in our world.  I mean look at what Rey is doing for the Star Wars fanbase, but I digress.  However, good for Patty as it looks like all her persistence paid off and she is now helming a historic adventure on the big screen here.  If this motion picture is successful, she will go down in the history books.  That much is for sure.

The other thing I wanted to bring up before we talk about the film itself is the fact that Patty Jenkins originally had her reservations about Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.  The problem being is that I believe Patty likes to do here own casting.  Let’s not forget that Gal was casted as Wonder Woman way back before the production of Batman v. Superman so Patty had no choice but to roll with her.  However, once Patty started working with Gal all her apprehension quickly dissipated and from what I read she simply adores her relationship with Gal and wouldn’t want Wonder Woman any other way.  You have to love those sentiments going in that at least we know our director here believes in her leading lady.  Damn straight!  Furthermore, Patty’s love for Gal and why she admires her so is captured in much more detail in her written foreword within Sharon Gosling’s Wonder Woman: The Art and Making of the Film.

I guess before we even deep dive into talking about the film it’s worth noting that Mr. Zack Snyder already spilled the beans that a Wonder Woman sequel will be coming.  When that will be is anybody’s guess, but it’s nice to hear things like this before even walking in the theater to check Wonder Woman out, err I mean the film Wonder Woman obviously.  Ha ha.  So that really means one thing.  It kind of confirms that Warner Bros. believes they have both a profitable and hopefully this time critical winner on their hands.  I hope so because dear God I can’t take another Scott Mendelson or Aaron Neuwirth slam of the DCEU film universe on Facebook.  They’re not that bad!  And no I’m not talking this Scot Mendelson.  LMAO.  Thankfully Aaron’s drought now finally came to an end.  See here!  But seriously it’s finally time to start talking how did Gal Gadot do in her first big screen solo adventure and more importantly how the hell is it.  I’m too excited for any kind of organization in this review so oh hell let’s talk about both those points at once and whatever other chaotic thoughts come to my mind.  Ha ha.

Truth be told 2 hours and 20 minutes never went by so fast.  I’m not going on record saying there wasn’t pacing issues at times or areas that could have been trimmed up, but truth be told again my attention never wandered here.  I was so engrossed in the film that even before the inevitable Third Act played out I was already saying to myself please don’t end, please don’t end.  I can sit here all night.  I really could.  Wonder Woman enriched my life with everything I desire.  It had brains.  It had beauty.  And above all else it had brawn.  Like Michael Myers is to evil, Wonder Woman is to good, a seemingly unstoppable boogeywoman.  Now I know that is not a word, but bear with me as I just invented it.  Is there really any stopping Wonder Woman?  I honestly don’t know, but I don’t care either.  She has my money no matter what.  I guess going forward from a storyline perspective it would be nice to see some kind of “physical” weakness, but I digress.  Let’s talk everything good about Wonder Woman from here on out.

Much like in Man of Steel and the Krypton setting of Supe’s home planet the First Act of our film here takes place on the mythical island of Themyscira.  The origin of these women that inhabit this island is explained via narration over historical events.  However, that’s not before one cleaver bookend that ties nicely into the plot of BvS.  As soon as they opened things in this fashion I had an instant hard on and just knew I was going to love this feature.  Ha ha.  And so the origin explains the Gods, the downfall of men and the women of this island magically shielded from the rest of the modern world or so to speak since this is a period piece like the first Captain America film was.  However, unlike that Marvel film we dare don’t speak of in a DCEU movie review here, Wonder Woman isn’t a bore.  Thus were introduced to young Diana, her mother, aunt and all her other sisterly protectors.  We learn about her training, her motivation and how she came to be the fierce warrior we now know her as.  More importantly though we also learn literally how she came to be…um her conception into this world.  If you can get past this leap of faith, then I have no worries that you won’t be enthralled throughout.

Right from the get go, albeit a slow beginning, we’re introduced to Diana’s world.  I already mentioned three traits I love about this film: brains, beauty and brawn, but there’s so much more!  There’s humor, wit, empathy, compassion, heart and something I was very happy to see here…violence.  Make no mistake this is a superhero action film, but perhaps all the marketing of Wonder Woman Barbie dolls got it all wrong here.  Boys are going to love this gal too.  They are going to want Wonder Woman toys and t-shirts.  I know I do!  She’s not only a killer in the looks department, but also on the battlefield too.  Holy hell is she cunning and brute.  To see her take out a sniper on top of a building is like the milky surprise you get when you bite into a Cadbury Creme Egg.  It’s simply scrumptious if you like that kind of stuff.  There’s some hardcore action sequences here that are loads of fun, but for artistic and fighting style purposes the filmmakers tinker with them all Matrix-style throughout.  However, I’m cool with all that.  If you can’t have fun with Gal kicking arse in every which direction, then perhaps this isn’t the film for you.  For all others please read on.

The real star of this film isn’t so much the character of Wonder Woman it’s of the woman that embodies her, Gal Gadot.  I must say I had my doubts when she was first casted a few years back, but thank the Gods she has proven me wrong.  She owns this role, but not only of Wonder Woman.  Oh no!  I’m talking that of Diana “Prince” too.  When we move into the Act Two “Fun & Games” section of the film that’s where I knew right then and there that we made the right choice with casting this “gal.”  She brought sexy back to the world of superheroes, but also innocence and gullibility the brilliant way she portrayed her Clark Kent alter ego, Diana Prince.  Think of the tomfoolery of Nina Dobrev’s character in xXx: Return of Xander Cage.  She was both nerdy and ambitious, but on the surface completely innocent and gullible looking. You get what I’m dropping here?  While at the same time she should be commended for her stealth, athleticism and fierce fighting skills.  Her time in the Israeli army was well spent because she confidently pulled off the appearance of warrior that you never want to cross on the battlefield because she owned it.

Awesome slo-mo action sequences aside there’s also rich characters, a love interest for Diana and consequences for all.  Let’s tackle the characters first.  They’re likable, developed and enjoyable.  From the band of misfits Steve assembles for the journey to the World War I front lines to the Amazonian family that raises Diana on the secret island they are all integral to the forward momentum of the story.  The screen time shared by Pine and Gadot provided the utmost of enjoyment and that’s where that gullibility factor I mentioned up above really shines.  It was cute, humorous and even thought provoking to take in both the dialogue and banter between the two.  Of course one thing leads to another.  What would a good story be without a love interest?  It’s an essential ingredient and as you’ll find out also very important to the underlying development and motivations of Wonder Woman’s character.  Even the villains were mischievous and menacing.  There’s a woman that makes killer gas that even eats through gas masks.  Hee haw!  You had me at hello there.  However, none of this is as important as the fact that every action in this story yields a consequence.  There’s just not sequences for the hell of it.  I can see why some people hate this of BvS, but whatever.  Storytelling is improved upon here.  There I said it!

For all the haters out there the only thing I can possibly understand is maybe people’s beef with the ending.  Yes it’s mandatory there has to be a God-like battle.  You’ll understand when you see it, but given her unlimited powers and abilities what else can you possibly do?  It’s perfectly acceptable and in my opinion rightfully justified.  Of course these are the shining moments where poorly written dialogue and stupid one-liners usually prevail, and Wonder Woman is no exception to that rule, but ultimately it’s the journey to this point that has made this outing so spectacular.  So what I’m saying is you just got to roll with the punches and gleefully applaud for the newest love in your life, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman.  It will be alright, trust me.  At least you know they won’t let her die as she’s in Justice League and obviously on the DCEU timeline that one comes way after this.  Ha ha.  I won’t ruin anything though as because this setup of an explosive ending is well telegraphed throughout.  Needless to say the trailers did a remarkable job of at least leaving it as a surprise and so will I.  Now speaking of Justice League…

While we can speculate all day long on the events of the upcoming Justice League movie the one thing I really hope the film accomplishes is challenging each of the members’ physical traits.  And I say this in regards to Wonder Woman in particular.  My only nitpick here in this outing is that she seems physically indestructible in this film.  One outing like this is fine, but a subsequent outing where she basically can’t be harmed may leave me a bit disgruntled.  After watching this and if I were in the Justice League, I would say go Wonder Woman go get them.  She apparently can’t be harmed.  I would like to see the dynamics of this bad thought of mine flipped in the Justice League for not only her, but for all the team members.  After all what good is a hero without flaws?  The answer is absolutely nothing.  They are just wooden Michael Myers in my opinion.  However, I digress.  Wonder Woman is absolute blast!  I’m definitely going back this weekend to see it on the best screen possible in Austin, which I know isn’t saying much.  It’s a great superhero story full of whimsical writing, comic relief, spectacular action sequences and one hell of a strong cast, not to mention an exquisite leading lady in Gal Gadot.  This one’s going to make money folks and many prepubescent girls are going to have a new role model in their lives.  Yes, this Wonder Woman kills, but don’t hold that against her.  This isn’t the 1970’s anymore.  Enjoy modern times!