When Wonder Woman released in 2017, it showcased a lighter side of the, at the time, quite dark and gritty DC Extended Universe, and now Wonder Woman 1984 takes that hope and lightness to even further heights. For the sequel, director Patty Jenkins returns and takes on scripting duties alongside DC Comics writer Geoff Johns and screenwriter David Callaham (The Expendables). The movie trades in Diana Prince's (Gal Gadot) adventures in a World War I ravaged Europe for 1980s America, following the Amazonian princess long after she's lost the surviving friends she gained in the first film. Wonder Woman 1984 is filled with hope, love and optimism, offering impressively cinematic superhero action with beautifully sentimental heart.

In Wonder Woman 1984, Diana is living her life alone in Washington D.C., choosing to not have any emotional attachments to the world around her even as she keeps up her superhero antics in secret. But when the timid and awkward Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig) arrives at the Smithsonian, the two bond over a recent shipment of antiquities. One of those artifacts turns out to be much more than meets the eye and begins granting the wishes of those who come into contact with it, including both Barbara and Diana. However, when businessman Max Lord (Pedro Pascal) gets his hands on the artifact, his wish has far-reaching consequences. Thankfully, Diana is reunited with her long-dead boyfriend Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), who reminds her about the need for emotional attachment. With Steve's help, Diana sets out to save the world once again.

Related: Wonder Woman 1984: Every DCEU Character Returning In The Sequel

Kristen Wiig and Pedro Pascal in Wonder Woman 1984

At its heart, Wonder Woman 1984 tells a very human story about love and loss that feels especially prescient in 2020, but the film never loses hope or faith in the ultimate goodness of the world and those who live in it. Gadot's Diana embodies that hope and optimism in every way - sometimes to the point that it feels far too unrealistic in a year filled with so much loss, but that blind idealism is also comforting in its steadfastness. Gadot again brings an equal amount of vulnerability and strength to the role of Diana that gives Wonder Woman a uniquely dynamic screen presence. Wonder Woman 1984 is further buoyed by Pine's turn as Steve Trevor, working well to ground Diana in a humanity that could be tough for an Amazonian princess. Their dynamic is as effortlessly charming as in the first film, with Pine bringing plenty of humor to his role. Gadot and Pine are juxtaposed well by Wiig and Pascal, who have their own arcs that work to showcase other sides of humanity.

But Diana is very much the heart of Wonder Woman 1984, and it's this heart around which Jenkins, Johns and Callaham's script builds an epicly cinematic superhero action story. While the first Wonder Woman movie may have been more of an origin story, Wonder Woman 1984 very much depicts Diana as a fully-fledged superhero, and the action set pieces reflect this. They showcase a Wonder Woman who is mostly comfortable in her powers, and it's thrilling to see the hero revel in her strength. But there are also moments when Diana pushes her abilities and discovers new facets to her strength, which are just as electrifying. Though there isn't a sequence that replicates the breathtakingly exciting and emotional No Man's Land set piece in the first film, Wonder Woman 1984 does have one scene featuring Diana on her own that comes close. Altogether, there's plenty of fun action that's, for the most part, skillfully interweaved with the emotional through line of the film - all of which would look fantastic on a big theater screen.

Chris Pine and Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman 1984

Where Wonder Woman 1984 flounders a bit is in the sheer length of the movie, which clocks in at two hours and 30 minutes long. Jenkins' sequel is a sprawling superhero movie with epic action scenes and plenty of character-driven heart, but its pacing gets bogged down in thematic minutiae, the importance of which doesn't become clear until later in the film - sometimes much later. But while the themes of the film are perhaps overly explained, the actual world-building is glossed over much more quickly, culminating in a story in which the meaning is clear, even as the plot points are muddy at best. It's ultimately forgivable, but may leave some viewers frustrated by the story and/or pacing of Wonder Woman 1984.

In the end, Wonder Woman 1984 delivers an impressively cinematic superhero experience, with the necessary heart and emotional storyline to keep it grounded. It's a well-rounded movie experience and would no doubt benefit from being seen on the biggest screen possible in order to get the full effect of Jenkins' directorial eye. It's a must-see for fans of the first Wonder Woman movie, picking up the threads from that film and exploring them in new, compelling ways - particularly in regard to Diana's relationship to humanity. Wonder Woman 1984 also epitomizes an optimism that's absolutely necessary in a year like 2020, which makes it an excellent watch for anyone in need of some hope this winter - and with the film releasing on HBO Max in addition to theaters, anyone wanting to see the movie (providing they're in the U.S., where the streaming service is available), can check it out. While many may not be able to watch Wonder Woman 1984 on a big theater screen, it serves as a reminder of just how fun, joyful and magical the movie-viewing experience can be.

Next: Wonder Woman 1984 Movie Trailer

Wonder Woman 1984 starts playing in theaters and streaming on HBO Max Friday, December 25th. It is 151 minutes long and rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence.

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