The embargo is up for Wonder Woman reviews, and as critics have been sharing their thoughts around websites far and wide, they’ve pushed the Rotten Tomatoes score to 97% at time of publishing. That’s a high rating for any film, let alone a comic book inspired story. Though the latest entry to the DCEU has received some criticism, many reviewers have praised it for its tone, refreshing origin story, and Gal Gadot‘s performance as Diana, the princess and general badass of Themyscira. This sampling of Wonder Woman reviews from around the web covers some highlights and low points of the movie.
Let’s start with the review from our very own managing editor Alicia Lutes. She compliments the way Wonder Woman focuses on Diana’s optimism:
“Ultimately it’s a relief—almost one of catharsis—that Wonder Woman excels where the rest of DC’s films have not. Its rumination on love and its essence is nuanced in many places. Diana’s belief and faith in the good of humanity is a deep love, far deeper than has ever really been personally explored in a superhero film.”
Kelly Lawler at USA Today mentions the talents of Gadot:
“It’s Gadot’s film and she is electric as Wonder Woman, a role she debuted in last year’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to wide acclaim. Unshackled from that film’s dreary baggage, the Israeli actress is able to shine as brightly in Wonder Woman’s smaller moments as she does when she lifts a tank with her bare hands.”
Over at CBR, Kristy Puchko says the movie celebrates the joyful parts of being a hero:
“Rather than stories of reluctant or brooding good guys, this film relishes in the wonder and excitement of being a superhero. Gadot’s face lights up as Diana tests her limits, leaps into action and saves the day.”
Joshua Yehl at IGN calls out the dynamics of the action sequences in his review:
“And goodness, are her action scenes are a breath of fresh air for the superhero genre. She leaps high into the air and hits like a truck, and while she is super tough, she doesn’t have Superman-level invulnerability, so she’s constantly switching between attacking with her sword and lasso and defending with her shield and bracelets.”
Sheri Linden at THR thinks the origin story of Diana is strong but that the movie suffers from “lapses in narrative energy”:
“Yet as with all comics-based extravaganzas, brevity is anathema to the Patty Jenkins-directed Wonder Woman, and it doesn’t quite transcend the traits of franchise product as it checks off the list of action-fantasy requisites.”
At The Guardian, Steve Rose isn’t impressed with the characterization of Diana:
“…poor Diana has been reduced to a weaponised Smurfette. The modish action sequences jerk between speeded-up and slowed-down to catch every detail of her defence-based fighting style and flawless, mud-free complexion. She fixes the war in a matter of minutes.”
But Angie Han of Mashable details that Diana’s perspective of the war is different and valuable:
“As far as World War I pictures go, Wonder Woman isn’t all that graphic or gory. By showing us our world through her eyes, though, Wonder Woman serves up a fresh appreciation for how horrific a concept war truly is – as well as how deeply embedded it is in human culture, and how insurmountable a task it would be to change that.”
Variety‘s Andrew Barker calls out director Patty Jenkins‘ directing influences:
“Wonder Woman is the first major studio superhero film directed by a woman, and it shows in a number of subtle, yet important ways. As skimpy as Gadot’s outfits may get, for example, Jenkins’ camera never leers or lingers gratuitously — Diana is always framed as an agent of power, rather than its object.”
Lindsey Bahr of the Associated Press says Wonder Woman isn’t perfect, but that “it’s often good, sometimes great and exceptionally re-watchable.” she didn’t care for the framing of the story done to connect it to the DCEU and says Steve Trevor doesn’t steal the spotlight.
“He’s [Steve] on his own mission, to stop the comically evil Germans’ General Ludendorff (Danny Huston) and Doctor Poison (Elena Anaya) from prolonging the war, but it’s never a question that this is Diana’s show.”
Wonder Woman will be in theaters on June 2. Head to the comments and tell me what you’re most looking forward to about the movie!
Images & GIFs: Warner Bros.
