JUNE 22, 2017
A sense of humor.
That’s the one key element that has been missing in the superhero films produced by DC Comics. Though to varying degrees they have all been hits at the box office, for me at least, each has been a chore to sit through — to a film, they have been moody and dour without a single glimmer of joy or recognizable human spirit.
After the smash hit of “The Dark Knight” trilogy, DC Comics decided to expand its worldview to create the “DC Comics Extended Universe,” in which Batman and Superman coexist in a world with other characters from the DC family. Since 2013, there have been four “Extended Universe” films, and faithful readers know that I have had a history of not exactly liking most of them:
‘MAN OF STEEL” (2013) — Hated it.
‘BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN” (2016) — Abhorred it.
‘SUICIDE SQUAD” (2016) — Loathed it.
“WONDER WOMAN” (2017) –– Liked it. A lot.
Hey, I’m as surprised as you are. But what director Patty Jenkins, writer Allan Heinberg and, perhaps most importantly, star Gal Gadot have done is to make Diana Pierce a living, breathing human being in addition to being Wonder Woman. It may seem like an easy get, but none of the DC Comic movies have managed so far to do it. Not to get personal but I will: Henry Cavill’s paper-thin Superman pales next to the memory of Christopher Reeve, Ben Affleck’s dour Batman is a buzzkill everywhere he goes and, except for the wonderful Margot Robbie, the interchangable villains of “Suicide Squad” just seem buried under all that extra make-up.
That why Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman” is such a breath of fresh air to which audiences are responding in droves. Jenkins is a hugely talented filmmaker whose skill of direction in 2003’s “Monster” led Charlize Theron to a Best Actress Oscar. Jenkins’ reward? She hasn’t worked in feature films for the last 14 years. Such is the plight of female directors in Hollywood. I don’t know who plucked her out female-director jail to make “Wonder Woman,” but I’m so glad that they did, because it is Jenkins that keeps the very smart action moving.
On to “Wonder Woman.” As the origin story of how Diana Prince (Gadot) became the title character, the film opens on the island of Themyscira, where a race of Amazon warrior women live in peace but are prepared to fight at a moment’s notice. Young Diana dreams of being a warrior, but that choice is forbidden by her mother, Queen Hippolyta (Connie Neilsen) who is anxious to protect her daughter from any harm. Still, Diana persists, and she receives secret training from her warrior aunt, General Antiope (Robin Wright, wonderful as always), and soon Diana has become the most fearsome warrior on the island.
One day, a fighter plane, which was being shot at by German airmen, crashes into the sea. The Germans then invade Themyscira, where they are dispatched at the hands of the Amazons, although Antiope suffers a fatal wound for a bullet meant for Diana. Washing up on the shore is the surviving American pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), who is soon nursed back to health by the Amazons.
Steve tells the women of the pain and danger that people must endure during World War I, which is currently being fought from where he lives. Diana, compassionate as well as fearsome, realizes that she must go back with Steve to help these people who are suffering.
They land in London where Steve is based, and “Wonder Woman” becomes a fish-out-of-water story, as Diana must learn how to deal with these strange clothes and these strange customs. We’ve seen hundreds of fish-out-of-water stories, but it works here largely because of Gadot. Some characters play that situation by being timid and scared in their new surroundings (boring), but Gadot plays it open and curious (if still totally confused), and that identifiable choice draws us even closer to the character.
Yes, there’s a plot (something about a mad scientist providing a lethal gas for the Germans to use at the font lines), but that’s not the reason why audiences have responded to “Wonder Woman.” I think it’s because of two women — Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot. When Gadot, an Israeli model with limited acting experience was cast for the role, eyebrows were raised all over Hollywood, including mine. But seeing her carry this entire film (and franchise) on her shoulders, I’m delighted to admit that I was wrong.
I had expected her to handle the physical challenges of the role just fine (she was a combat trainer in Israel Defense Forces), but I hasn’t expected the tenderness and most of all, humor that she brings to the role. Granted, “Wonder Woman” is no joke-fest, but there’s a certain spirit that Gadot brings to the role that develops a lightness of tone that is almost completely missing from the other depressing movies in the D.C. Universe.
Just a word about Chris Pine. Yes, he’s got to-die-for looks, but he’s such a talented actor (I’m a huge fan of his stage work), to see him take on the role of eye-candy sidekick is fun but it also gives him a much wider berth for him to explore his character, which he does beautifully.
Finally, the total success of the film has to go back to Patty Jenkins, who returns from movie exile to show the male directors who helmed the previous DC Comics drudge-a-thons just how to create a superhero film that audiences really want to see and care about.
GRADE: B+
