Let's start with, I enjoyed it. As a lark, in a year that I just can't with anymore. It had some themes that I appreciated, and some angles I was glad for. And there were lacking bits.
Let's start with the good.
THEY DIDN'T FOCUS ON THE 80S FASHION. God, we all know that our sense of fashion in the 80s was nonexistent. The costumes for this purpose were well done. The one scene with bad clothing was lighthearted, and put Steve Trevor in something non-offensive.
The opening with Diana on Themyscira was excellent. It was nice to revisit the characters, and see another part of her youth.
Max's conclusion was good. He got it, and I felt like he needed that. Pedro Pascal was good (but it was weird to see him out of Mando's costume!).
Diana's conclusion (and that bonus scene! OMG YES) were good. She learned from her... well, I won't call it a mistake, but maybe her hubris? selfishness? She did what she had to do, and kept her humanity at the end.
Now the not so good...
The story was too loose. It dawdled at the start, not getting us into the real story quickly. It seems to be a flaw with most DC movies. They shuffle along, and then all of a sudden grab you and start running, pulling you along skipping good storytelling points.
It felt like this was a vehicle to create a villain who's story isn't wrapped up or "to be continued" by the end.
Things I took real issue with:
1. the fireworks scene - Steve was killed in a mortar barrage and explosion. He has no reaction to these things around him? And hello, stupid flying.
2. The Mayan text. I get that Diana has been around for thousands of years and can read extinct languages. But the Mayan texts were destroyed or badly damaged during the Spanish Inquisition. A book like that would also not have survived in such pristine condition.
Things that bothered me greatly:
1. Barbara's "costume". More than one person has mentioned it looked like they borrowed it from "Cats." And it was a bad choice. Consider the Catwoman costumes from the Dark Knight (Anne Hathaway) or Batman Returns (Michelle Pfeifer). They weren't transformed, but rather chose a costume to reflect what they were. Which is the smarter way to go. Barbara's wasn't in keeping with the idea of the Citrine--all the other wishes didn't physically alter the person. Not even Steve. But she did. Bleh.
2. Too much flying time when she discovers it. Thanks, Supes flies too we don't need this expanded.
3. Barbara's focus on popularity. Being unpopular myself, I never had a burning desire to become an apex female. Ever. I get that the 80s were shallow, but this was just too much.
It's not as good as the first, by a long shot. But it's a light lark. The story could have been more powerful. They should have focused either on Barbara/Cheetah OR Max Gold. It dawdled terribly at the start, but the ending came in at medium strong, and I would watch again.
I refuse to read feminist themes into it, or that it focuses on the MMC (he's a vehicle, nothing more). It's flawed.
I'd give it 3/5. Because there were some things that made me smile. Like Max just **getting it** at the end.
Go into with a sense of "this is just light fun."
