Movie: Wonder Woman
My Rating: 4 stars
Of course I went to see this movie in the theater! How could I not have? It’s got just about everything I look for from a light, summer, movie outing—tough, lady characters kicking butt, fancy costumes and period dress, ridiculous CGI fighting sequences, silly comedic relief, and an audience full of rowdy, middle-aged ladies drinking wine right out of the bottle. I didn’t even know that movie theaters sold bottles of wine. Perhaps these gals smuggled them in the way I’ve been known to do with a hot meatball sub. But either way, the fun and rowdiness of the occasion was enough to make me ignore the rather cheesy plot and relatively predictable story line, and just enjoy the experience.
This movie is, of course, an updated version of the classic DC Comic, Wonder Woman. This is a character whose image I’ve been familiar with since I was in pre-school. But, as with all the other resurrected comic book franchises we’ve seen lately, I really was never familiar with the comic. So, I wasn’t drawing on any nostalgia for the actual story or lore of the character. However, I do have a special place in my heart for Wonder Woman. I was a very small girl when I first became aware of this character, and as is typical with little four-year-olds, I really responded more to the imagery than anything else. And even as a small thing, I was very taken by the idea of a strong, fighting lady. I remember my friends and I punching through the bottom of dixie cups so that we could wear them on our wrists like those bracers that Wonder Woman wears. So even thought I was never familiar with the comics that this character was based on, I do have some nostalgia for her nevertheless. And from my point of view, this high-budget extravaganza really did the character justice.
I did enjoy this movie. It’s not perfect by any means. But, it was a really fun one to see in the theater with a full crowd, and I recommend you see it that way too if you can still find it playing anywhere. I know this is exactly what the movie studios are counting on, but there’s something about a big, action-packed, super-hero movie that lends itself well to the big screen. And, that’s what this movie was. It didn’t really hold any surprises for me. But sometimes it’s comforting to get exactly what you’re expecting.