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Today marks a turning point — for film, for women in film, and for the superhero genre in general.
Wonder Woman, directed by Patty Jenkins, debuts today and will set the record for the highest grossing weekend for a film directed by a woman.
And that’s a game changer. For one, the film is excellent, blowing previous DC films out of the water (2016’s Suicide Squad earned 25% on Rotten Tomatoes while Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice got 27%). And it’s a turning point for the DC Extended Universe as well, as prospects look up for future films in the franchise (Justice League and Aquaman).
It wasn’t too long ago that female superhero films were destined to be flops. They didn’t perform well at the box office and many felt the audience just wasn’t there. But no more.
Wonder Woman is a cinematic powerhouse full of noteworthy performances, an intriguing story, and so much fun you won’t be able to believe it. But most importantly, it’s a statement against the idea that female-focused action films, especially those in the superhero genre, just aren’t good enough and won’t draw an audience.
The film tells the story of Diana Prince (Gal Gadot), more affectionately known as the Princess of the Amazons, the mythical female race chosen by Zeus to protect mankind. Diana ends up inadvertently in the middle of World War I, helping Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) and his trio of misfits in saving the world from a couple of insidious Germans and the Greek God Ares (no, really).
Gadot is everything Wonder Woman should be. She owns the stage with the right affect and empathy the role demands. She commands the screen, but in a subtle way. Gadot, whose previous big roles include the Fast and the Furious franchise, finally comes into her own and cements herself as a true Hollywood star.
But, it’s Pine who really shines (this shouldn’t really be surprising though since he most recently killed it in Hell or High Water). He manages to bring a level of comedy and sincerity to a role that should be as stagnant as it is basic. Never before has the love interest of a superhero film been so real and so entertaining (seriously, remember Pepper Potts and Jane Foster). But it’s Pine who brings this level of humanity to the role.
Most interesting, however, is Jenkins take on the power of choice and feminism for a superhero film. No doubt will her choices, especially about the forces that drive Diana, be the focus of much discussion in the coming weeks. The character has always had a complicated history with feminism and that is no different now.
Despite this, Wonder Woman seems like a landmark moment for women and film in general. It’s a film that will entertain and bring a smile to millions, despite the doubt that has existed in the industry for so many years. And, if anything, it may be exactly what film needs in 2017.
