After another lockdown, it was great to see the cinema open again. On entering, I was welcomed by the lovely staff as always and I love the vibe of the building and the passion the employees have for film. The cinema is back!
For the re-opening, there are few bigger movies to return with than Wonder Woman 1984. This hotly anticipated DC sequel was initially due to release in the Summer, but was delayed like many other big releases due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Some of the year’s biggest pictures such as The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Mulan decided to opt out of a cinema release altogether and instead drop straight on to streaming services Netflix and Disney+ respectively, with Wonder Woman actually following in their footsteps by becoming available later this month in the United States on HBO Max. However, unlike these other films that turned to streaming, WW84 still stuck with a strictly theatrical release in Europe and will still show in some theatres stateside too, and I’m so glad they did as this is definitely a movie which should be seen on the big screen.
I didn’t love Wonder Woman 1984 as much as I’d hoped, but there’s undeniable fun to be had and I do believe a lot of people are going to leave the cinema extremely satisfied. The film looks stunning and they really nail the look of the 80’s setting, but for me it was just too cheesy in places and the story could’ve been stronger and shorter.
Following her heroics during World War I, we now see Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) in 1984 as she continues to help make the world a better place as the fearless hero Wonder Woman. But after quirky work colleague Barbara (Kristen Wiig) comes into possession of a rare gem, what follows are a series ofevents which will alter reality, with wannabe businessman Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) in pursuit with plans for global domination. Be careful what you wish for.
The lovely Gadot once again shines as Diana, lighting up the screen and she delivers a strong emotional side to her character which I’ve not seen before from the actress. There is one scene late on where director Patty Jenkins keeps a tracking shot close and personal to Gadot and you truly feel the pain her character is going through. She also shares a great chemistry with the returning Chris Pine, and I really liked how they brought back his character and watching him adapt to life in the 80’s was fun to watch unfold.
The star of the show for me is Pedro Pascal as the mischievous Maxwell Lord. It is a delight to see Pascal in a role like this following the dead-pan seriousness to his leading role in the excellent Mandalorian series and here he is allowed to be let loose in a fully off-the-wall role. I can only describe it as Bruce Almighty as a DC villain. It’s also nice to see Kristen Wiig in a villainous turn but I sadly found her character more annoying than likeable.
It’s certainly the type of film where you will either go with itor you won’t. I certainly expect many viewers to find the film sweet and magical, yet despite an undeniable charm to the movie I struggled with the writing and just how corny the filmwas. The first Wonder Woman perfected the feeling of hope without losing the grittiness of the DC universe, but with 1984 I struggled to stomach the high amount of cheese I was seeing on screen.
The film features strong direction from Jenkins, who returns after directing the first film, and the action when it arrives is entertaining if mostly spoiled by the trailers. There are plenty of moments, certainly for female audience members, which will make them laugh or want to throw a fist in the air. It’s Female Power: The Movie and there is nothing wrong with that, it just never quite worked for me like the first film did.
Verdict: A crowd-pleasing if sugary superhero adventure that is worth admission for Gadot, Pine and Pascal alone.
Best Moment: A brawl in The White House
Rating: 7/10
Book tickets NOW – https://www.odeon.co.uk/cinemas/hereford/
