Bad Buddy accepting a Grammy.
Courtesy | Variety
“Wonder Man” is a hidden gem. Even with some plot frustrations, Marvel Spotlight’s latest show streaming on Disney+ is worth the watch.
Recent productions from Marvel set the bar incredibly low. Critics predicted “Wonder Man” would be a drawn out show about nothing; a half-hearted cash grab such as “She-Hulk” or “Ironheart.” Yet, after the first episode, “Wonder Man” seemed different.
Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) was born with two gifts: acting and superpowers, the latter of which no one knows about. After the tragic incident of a superpowered actor called the Doorman, the government passes the Doorman Clause, making it illegal to be an actor while possessing superpowers. If Williams’ secret is exposed, his future as an actor is over.
Williams’ budding acting career is pathetic, mostly consisting of small, occasional roles on TV shows. But, after overhearing a tip, he is given the acting opportunity of a lifetime — an audition as the lead role for an upcoming superhero movie: “Wonder Man.”
During the course of his audition, he strikes up a friendship with a seasoned actor who has a checkered past, Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley). Throughout the course of the show, Slattery becomes a mentor and a friend to Williams. With the stress of the audition process — as well as Slattery’s past catching up to him — Williams starts losing control of his powers.
Williams isn’t a hero. The world isn’t in danger, and there isn’t even a clearly defined villain. Williams is a self-absorbed wannabe actor. He’s a lonely man who is constantly putting on a confident façade. The first time we are introduced to Williams, the song “Act Naturally” by Buck Owens plays. The lyrics “We’ll make a scene about a man that’s sad and lonely,” capture the theme of the show. The only times Williams seems truly himself is when he’s acting.
The Department of Damage Control is the closest thing to a villain in “Wonder Man.” Most of the scenes with Agent Cleary, the man in charge of the operation to capture Williams, feel like filler.
Marvel made a show that doesn’t fall into the trap of being, well, Marvel. At face value, the plot seems pretty boring. But what makes “Wonder Man” worth a watch is how it tells its story. The sloppy CGI effects are stripped away. Marvel doesn’t use fluff to cover up weak writing.
The show’s powerful moments are not action scenes but acting scenes. “Wonder Man” is at its best in the dialogue between Williams and Slattery. The actors are witty and charming. Williams and Slattery often converse over the meaning of acting and the issues with the film industry.
“Wonder Man” is a meta show. It is a show about making a show. “Wonder Man” doesn’t focus on the glamorous Hollywood. In “Wonder Man” the scenes are full of camera crews, golf carts, assistants, costume designers, and the dozens of behind-the-scenes workers we never see.
The show’s run time is perfect, as the first season consists of six, 30-minute episodes. Even with a short run time, “Wonder Man” does an excellent job of developing characters the viewer falls in love with.
The cinematography also looks stunning. The shots are vivid and have intentionality behind them. Williams is commonly seen in a hallway or doorway — trapped and isolated from everyone else — representing the pressure of people’s expectations closing in from all sides. The best shots were of Williams driving with Slattery in his car, as there is a gritty aesthetic to the Los Angeles background.
Is “Wonder Man” perfect? Of course not. The ending unfortunately falls flat. Williams’s powers seem as though they were tacked on as an afterthought. Most of the time, when he uses his powers, it feels forced, as if the writer suddenly remembered that he even has them. Additionally, Williams’s powers are never given a decent explanation. His superpowers are vaguely described as “power.”
“Wonder Man” is a fast paced and thought-provoking show on the film industry that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you have given up on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that’s understandable. But “Wonder Man” isn’t trying to save the MCU. It might actually be a soft apology from Marvel and proof that they still know how to make entertaining and intelligent content. If this doesn’t completely convince you, Josh Gad singing “Its Summer” from “Frozen” at a night club in the show might.
