Though Wonder Woman has been published since 1941, her Rogues Gallery isn't as robust as her male counterparts'. Is her #2 archenemy enough to match or surpass the stakes of the first film? Not quite. Wonder Woman 1984 does not have the same impact or gravity as the original. On the upside, the villains are more complex and memorable and director Patty Jenkins’ take on the 80s does offer some nice material to chew on.
In 1984, Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) befriends Barbara Ann Minerva (Kristen Wiig) while studying the “Dreamstone” - an ancient artifact that supposedly grants wishes. After it brings Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) back to life and fulfills Barbara's deepest desires, the stone is taken by businessman Maxwell “Max Lord” Lorenzano (Pedro Pascal).
The first movie was about Diana learning of mankind's potential for both good and evil. This time, the themes are desires, loss, and acceptance. Diana is still heartbroken over Steve Trevor. You don’t blame her; Pine and Gadot were so good together you crave to see them as a couple again. Barbara idolizes Diana and wants the same kind of beauty and strength she has. After seeing her get harassed and then attacked by a drunkard while walking home, you understand her envy. There's even a message there about the fact that once her transformation begins she's still taken advantage of by a rich man and that both she and Diana are constantly receiving unwanted advances by would-be suitors. It isn't the focus of the film but does circle back to the idea of "be careful what you wish for".
If there's one characteristic that defined the '80s, it's greed and indulgence. Lord's desires are like all of humanity's at the time; understandable at first but ultimately, unsustainable. His quest for more - more oil, more power, more resources, more respect - risks a global conflict. The "wishes with a toll" thing has been done before but it's given some new tricks in this story. I particularly like the way Max Lord finds ways to circumvent the "one wish per person" rule.
A few aspects of this sequel make it a lesser film than its predecessor. Last time, we had a coming-of-age story. Now, Diana’s world-savvy. Steve is the one catching up to her - a nice reversal - but the plot has her powers diminished. Our heroine isn't the same powerhouse we saw traverse No Man's Land. Combined with the 151-minute running time and this Wonder Woman lacks a bit of punch.
Having just rewatched Wonder Woman, I was hoping this sequel would deliver the same level of emotion. Unfortunately, it doesn't. Though this makes it a slight disappointment, the conclusion is more emotional and truer, the romance between Diana and Steve is just as good as before, and the villains are better fleshed out (an upside of that length). If you want to see more of the character, you'll be glad to see Wonder Woman 1984. When you do, stay tuned for an extra scene mid-way through the credits. (December 27, 2020)