Wonder Woman 1984 * * *

 

WW ties up a villain. (Unsurprisingly he seems to be enjoying it)

I tried to avoid it, but circumstances put me in an inescapable position.  At least, that's my excuse. 
   Last time we saw Wonder Woman she was single handedly winning the First World War, this time she has a much bigger task - to stop people being selfish.  Maybe that's why they set it in 1984. Some historians say the eighties was the ultimate decade of selfishness and greed with Reagonomics etc.  I don't know,  but I do know it was also a time before mobile phones and before the internet had taken hold, so that eliminates a few devices that would otherwise impact on the plot.    

    Perhaps I missed something but I couldn't figure out how WonderWoman hadn't aged between 1918 and 1984. If the explanation is that she never changes, then how was she ever a child? (as she is in the opening scenes). Equally hard to accept is the way her dead lover Steve come back.  

   Anyway, these practicalities don't matter too much in this kind of film. We're just here to see her kick-butt which she does very effectively at the beginning when she sorts out some dumb jewelry robbers. 

    We learn that Diane (Wonder Woman) now works at a museum of antiquities.  She befriends a dorky new girl, Barbara.  Meanwhile there is a guy called Max whose "corporation" is failing badly; but he is aware of a precious stone that will grant you a wish.  The same stone turns up at the museum where Barbara and Diane are working.  Max is determined to get hold of it, but when he does - well you can imagine what happens, especially when he  goes round inviting people to "Have a wish on me".

      It even turns Barbara from a nerdy sweetie to a spiteful extra from Cats. (Yes, I said Cats. You'll agree with me when you see her.)

    For the next couple of hours it's on a for young and old as WW fights and protects and fights and protects some more. Got to give it to Gal Gadot as WW, she's good at it. Even in close up, when she says she cares about truth and justice, her eyes don't lie. And she clearly just loves children.

     It is hard to critique Wonder Woman 1984 as cinema.  It is what it is. A 200 million dollar investment in a product that has to work and consequently has a lot of people on board to make sure it does.  If this is your thing you'll get a 140 minute silly story, full of amazing CGI effects and plot holes, but that might be just what you want. If it is, enjoy.