DC finally gets it right with 'Wonder Woman'

Even after all the superhero movies over the past two decades, a good entry in the genre can produce the kind of spectacle that makes going to the movies magical.

For most of its running time, “Wonder Woman” is consistently engaging and anchored by an especially charismatic lead performance. It’s above average in almost every capacity, minus an overblown, CGI-laden boss fight at the end.

But “Wonder Woman” is genuinely magical in a few key scenes, and it might even feature the best superhero movie moment of all time.

The film, set during World War I, takes a long while to show audiences Wonder Woman in full glory — costume, lasso and all. Director Patty Jenkins (“Monster”) saves the reveal for a perfect moment deep into the film’s second half. After Gal Gadot’s idealistic warrior witnesses the horrors and futility of trench warfare on the front lines, she steps out onto the battlefield alone and… well, it’s just about everything you’d want a superhero to be on the big screen.

After the debacles of last year’s “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Suicide Squad,” it seemed like DC already fumbled their chances to build a comprehensive and entertaining cinematic universe on the level of what Marvel anchored around “The Avengers.” “Wonder Woman” avoids the dourness and convoluted plotting of those other DC movies and instead follows well-drawn characters on clear and engaging story arcs. It doesn’t fuss about how the plot fits into what comes next (in this case, another team-up movie — “Justice League” in November).

That isn’t to say “Wonder Woman” follows a simple path — Jenkins and screenwriter Allan Heinberg stuff the film with Diana’s complicated backstory (she hails from an island of warrior women created by the gods), her entry into a world at war, her naivety on the human capacity for evil, and the relationship she forges with an American pilot she rescues from a crash on her home island.

Gadot, one of the few highlights in “Batman vs. Superman” despite her minimal screen time, is a sensation in “Wonder Woman.” Diana is ferocious, witty, idealistic, and vulnerable to the emotional consequences of her optimism. On the page, this particular blend of character traits can seem contradictory at times, but Gadot finds a balance that makes Diana a full-fleshed and relatable hero. Her struggle with the world away from the island, and how her idealism clashes with reality, ultimately becomes the film’s most compelling arc. Gadot sells every second of this internal conflict.

Gadot also shares vibrant chemistry with Chris Pine, who plays the pilot, Steve Trevor, Diana rescues at the beginning of the film. So much of the movie depends on the quiet scenes between Gadot and Pine, and while there’s a romantic element to it, the greater tension relies on how the characters go about acting on their ideals. The movie makes a case for two distinct perspectives on heroism itself. Their banter, while funny, ultimately plays into the film’s greater themes.

“Wonder Woman” is serious in its intentions but spirited in its execution. The movie’s healthy current of humor works because it’s the result of distinct character choices. And even smaller roles, from Robin Wright’s fierce General Antiope (Diana’s aunt) to Etta Candy, Trevor’s charismatic assistant played by Lucy Davis, leave an impression while serving the film’s broader story.

Being the first proper female-led superhero movie (no, “Catwoman” and “Elektra” don’t count, ack), “Wonder Woman” is elevated somewhat by what it represents in an industry too dominated by male voices. While it isn’t a perfect film — the major villain feels like an afterthought and some of the CGI work needs refinement — “Wonder Woman” feels like an event. It’s a joyous introduction to something we should have had a long, long time ago.

And that scene with Wonder Woman in No Man’s Land… it’s the kind of magic that makes people fall in love with movies. They’re too young now, but I can’t wait for my daughters to see it.

- • •

Tyler Wilson can be reached at twilson@cdapress.com