Oh, Woman, Thou Art the Wonder!

Film: Wonder Woman
Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, David Thewlis, Danny Huston, Robin Wright
Director: Patty Jenkins

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”                                      - Judy Garland

For years DC was trying to catch up with Marvel in the movie business. For years they tried to be another version of Marvel. And they failed miserably. Until now. What changed things was a decision to go boldly where Marvel had had not gone before – give the reins of the film to a woman. The said woman just made a small movie, but, in the process, also broke a rather thick glass ceiling.

It is a comic book story after all. There is the fun and the fantastic. Little Diana grows up in the misandristic (look it up or ask Tharoor) island of Themyscira. There are no men on the island, only female Amazons. Diana’s mother Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) wants to keep it that way. She also wants Diana to have a peaceful life and not grow up to be a warrior like her mother and aunts. Easier said than done. Diana (Gadot) grows up to be a confident young woman with a natural affinity and aptitude towards fighting. Until one day she finds out she has a few more skills.

But before she has time to brood (a trait that has ruined the DC Universe movies thus far), a plane drops out of the sky. The pilot, we later find, is Steve Trevor (Pine), an American spy serving with the Germans. Did I mention the First World War was just reaching its end when this happens? The Germans pursuing Steve find the island and the idyllic charms of the island are forever lost. Steve wants to go back to England as he has proof the Germans are developing a deadly weapon that could end the War to End All Wars quite differently from what it was shaping out to be. Diana wants to go for a more mythical reason. 

After a brief stopover in ‘hideous’ London, allowing for a few fish-out-of-water jokes, Diana, Steve and a ragtag gang go to the French front where the last battle will be fought. The British generals are loath to let a woman come into the room, much less give them ideas about how to fight the war. However, Sir Patrick Morgan (Thewlis), a member of the War Cabinet, realises the threat posed by mad General Ludendorff (Huston) and his scientist Dr Maru (Elena Anaya), and covertly supports Team WW. How does the mission go? 

The only person who came out smelling of roses from the truckload of manure that was Batman v Superman, was Gal Gadot. But could she carry an entire movie on her shoulders? Oh, me of little faith! Gadot oozes charisma. She has that rare movie star quality. Time will tell how she will fare in other roles, but when she is on screen as Wonder Woman you just cannot peel your eyes away. Gadot brings a quiet confidence and real empathy to the role. She is adept at humour and anger. Even the love story that is so integral to who she becomes is underplayed in a way that it stays with you long after you exited the theatre. 

Chris Pine takes on a rather thankless role in a woman-centric movie. The exact thankless role that thousands of woman take on in 99.9% of the other movies that are made. But the writers and director love him and that works to his advantage. His earnestness rubs off on us. The rest of the cast support, but do not stand out. Possibly because there is no time to develop all characters.

The action is incredible and I haven’t seen slow motion used this effectively in a long time. It helps that other than in the last fight it is about beating up bad guys and not blowing up the scenery. It also means the climactic fight is also the weakest. The incredible cello theme that was introduced in Batman v Superman continues here, but is sparsely used, thereby rendering it much more effective. The cinematography, especially in Themyscira, is stunning.

Patty Jenkins. Remember the name. Taking Allen Heinberg’s script, Jenkins went on to eschew the grandeur and flab that defined Zack Snyder’s Superman/Batman films and instead went about making a small, personal movie, but one that did not skimp on the action or the money shots. This is an origin story like any other, but it is told with respect and affection. Wonder Woman works because Jenkins does not make a movie she doesn’t want to make. It works because, for some reason, Warner Bros let her do her thing. There is no post-credits scene, no nod to the upcoming Justice League movie. Just a letter beginning with ‘Dear Bruce’. Wonder Woman works because Patty Jenkins is a superhero.

There is a scene where Diana and friends are in a trench at the battlefront. She climbs the ladder and into the enemy fire. Because she has to. Because she can. That is when the fanboy in me exploded. That is probably the juncture when the small personal movie bared its big comic heart. Showing the two can exist together. That you don’t need to keep your sense and sensibilities at the door when you come to watch a superhero movie. 

That is the lesson, one hopes the DC folks take note of. Listen to Judy, stop aping Marvel. Above all, give the keys to your kingdom to women. They are much better at everything.