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“Wonder Woman 1984” — What Do You Wish For? What Do You Give Up for It?
Yes, it has its flaws. Yet, it has truth, too.
By Jon Ochiai
Director Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot as Diana return in “Wonder Woman 1984” (WW84). This time streaming on HBO Max in the COVID-19 era. Too bad, I couldn’t see it in the theater. Too bad, WW84 isn’t as great as the original “Wonder Woman” (2017). Still, “Wonder Woman 1984” is good enough. Surprisingly, the screenplay by Patty Jenkins, Geoff Johns, and Dave Callahan is a narrative kluge. The fact that Chris Pine is back as Steve Trevor in 1984, when he died in the exploding plane in World War II, nearly “jumps the shark”. Nearly.
That being said, amidst the messy plot and tangential storylines, I still liked WW84, because of Gal and Chris. Both are beautiful and vulnerable. Kristine Wiig is dangerously compelling as Barbara Minerva, Diana’s socially marginalized anthropologist assistant at the Smithsonian Museum.
The Smithsonian attains possession of the mythological Dream Stone. Those who possess the Dream Stone can have whatever they wish for. Yet, there’s the tragic cost. Max Lord, played with lying charm by Pedro Pascal, is the failed oil Ponzi scheme TV celebrity. As a Smithsonian benefactor, Max knows of the Citrine Dream Stone’s powers. That’s a real…
