Review: Wonder Woman (12A)

Wonder Woman unfolds largely in flashback during the First World War and employs a framing device that dovetails neatly with lead star Gal Gadot's appearance in last summer's superhero smackdown, Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Jun 2017, 08:16 BST
Updated 4th Jun 2017, 21:53 BST
AMAZONIAN: Gal Gadot take the lead role in Wonder Woman.AMAZONIAN: Gal Gadot take the lead role in Wonder Woman.
AMAZONIAN: Gal Gadot take the lead role in Wonder Woman.

Disappointingly, however, Wonder Woman turns out to be another expensive exercise in high-tempo homogeneity, indistinguishable from other Marvel and DC Comics cash cows during the protracted special effects sequences.

Frenetic editing and a bombastic score give a false impression of dramatic momentum but the film sags.

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Diana (Gadot) is an Amazonian princess, who lives on the island of Themyscira where she is tutored in hand-to-hand combat by her grizzled aunt (Robin Wright).

US Army spy Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crash-lands in the sea close to the island and Diana rescues him from a watery grave.

He tells the Amazons about the conflict with the Germans. Horrified by mankind’s self-destruction, Diana prepares to leave her island, armed with magical artefacts including a fiery lasso.

Wonder Woman delivers a full arsenal of slam-bang thrills including acrobatic fight sequences and a hellish sprint through no man’s land with terrified soldiers.

Gadot is positively luminous but the simplistic script doesn’t test her acting mettle.

On general release

Related topics:Marvel