Review: Wonder Woman 1984

Image courtesy of Warner Bros.

Patty Jenkins's sequel to "Wonder Woman" has its moments and Gal Gadot remains a spirited and charismatic leading lady - while Chris Pine provides some surprising supporting gravitas - but "Wonder Woman 1984" is a somewhat overstuffed sequel that often feels too busy for its own good.

For starters, there's not much of a reason that the story is set in 1984 - yes, it gets to squeeze in a few scenes involving the Russians and the dangers of nuclear weapons, but it otherwise appears to take place during this period of time in order to crack jokes about parachute pants, modern art, breakdancing and various 1980s attire. I can recall only one period song - Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" is used to good effect - during the entire enterprise.

In the film, a powerful stone ends up at the lab where Diana (Godot) and dorky new lab researcher Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig, playing against type) are working. Of course, "WW84" is yet another in a long line of comic book movies where a jealous, nerdy type - Wiig's character - is envious of the superhero figure and, therefore, ends up turning to the dark side.

In this case, Barbara's transformation occurs when she realizes the stone can grant wishes, but at a price, naturally. The stone also attracts the attention of a smarmy TV personality named Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) who operates a Ponzi-scheme that involves buying shares in oil wells that don't deliver. Both Maxwell and Barbara become overwhelmed by the stone's power and - since this is a comic book movie - the world is suddenly in danger.

But Diana also makes a wish, although the stone's power is unbeknownst to her, that results in her lover, Steve (Pine), being brought back from the dead. Although the endless gags involving Steve's curiosity at 1980s couture and culture become a little tired after a while, his character provides the most dramatic elements of "WW84" that actually work. To stop the reign of madness brought on by the stone, everyone must renounce their wishes - and that includes Diana, who has received the one thing she wants (Steve's return) as a result of the stone.

The film has its fun moments and some decent dramatic fodder, but it's too long and often feels it, and the filmmakers often overdo it in their depictions of Maxwell and Barbara's corruption by the stone as if their viewers might not get the concept. There are many action sequences - again, too many - and while most of them are well enough handled, none are particularly awe inspiring or memorable.

The relationship between Diana and Steve is the real meat of the film, not the endless action scenes or the plot that actually feels as if it were ripped out of some movie made in the year, say, 1984. Jenkins's original "Wonder Woman" felt like a breath of fresh air and was fun - this one isn't bad, but it feels like a standard follow-up to a comic book movie. There's a whole lot more of everything, but that doesn't necessarily relate to a bump in quality. I'm sure a third entry in this series awaits, but I hope the filmmakers dial that one back a little - and if it's set in the present (and not some gimmicky era of yesteryear), that'll likely do.