BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
2022 | Dir. Ryan Coogler | 161 Minutes
"Vengeance has consumed us. We cannot let it consume our people."
Following the sudden heartbreaking loss of T'Challa, Wakanda is met with hostility from foreign powers while Shuri and Ramonda continue to grieve. When the powerful enigmatic leader of an underwater empire emerges from the ocean and forces Wakanda to choose between alliance or destruction, a new Black Panther must rise to protect Wakanda.
Writer/Director Ryan Coogler essentially performs an unimaginably difficult juggling act: addressing the unexpected passing of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman in a respectful way that also makes logical sense within the established narrative, introducing several key recurring characters new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a way that serves the film, telling a genuinely resonant and engrossing story, while still delivering the customary big budget set pieces of a modern superhero movie. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever fortunately delivers in all the ways that matter. T'Challa's absence, directly analogous to tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman, is an emotional through line that informs much of the narrative and further develops Shuri as a main character in her own right as she struggles with processing her sorrow through a captivating, deeply personal journey. Namor and Riri Williams fit into the MCU with the very best introductions imaginable, established as vibrant components of the Marvel Studios canon virtually right out of the gate. Perhaps the picture's weakest aspect is its relatively slow pace further burdened by its weighty themes of grief and retribution. However, the gravity of it all is appropriate, delivering a tale about the difficult nature of sorrow that rings true while drawing compelling parallels between Shuri and antagonist Namor. Of course, the film also certainly offers up plenty of massive exciting spectacle.
The visual effects and action sequences are some of best yet from Marvel Studios. The chase scene introducing Riri's prototype armor leading to Okoye's battle with Talokan warriors is thrilling through and through, as close to capturing the thrill of Tony Stark's first flight in Iron Man as audiences are like to get nearly a decade and a half since that film's release. The sense of wonder as Namor introduces the underwater kingdom of Talokan to Shuri is awe-inspiring, literally breathtaking as Talokan is rendered loving, aesthetically gorgeous detail. Talokan's assault on Wakanda would be a worthy finale for any big budget blockbuster but the feature ups the ante further in its final jaw-dropping oceanic battle that introduces Ironheart in all her glory, the MCU's visually striking take on the Midnight Angels, and a brutal knock-down-drag-out one-on-one fight between the Black Panther Shuri and Namor.
Letitia Wright gives her best performance yet, giving the character of Shuri more depth and nuance than ever, convincingly conveying vulnerability and fierceness in equal measure, proving without a doubt that she is more than capable of carrying on this franchise. Tenoch Huerta Mejía is both incredibly charismatic and believably formidable in the role of Namor, an instantly iconic anti-hero and a proper foil to the Black Panther. As Ramonda, Angela Bassett's gravitas is undeniable, channeling so much pain into palpable anger as a grieving mother. Playing a more significant role in this story, the fantastic Danai Gurira's Okoye seamlessly alternates between humorous, badass, and heartbreaking without missing a step. Dominique Thorne shines in the role of scrappy tech genius Riri Williams, her joy truly infectious when she suits up as Ironheart. Michaela Coel is a welcome addition to the MCU as the rebellious Wakandan warrior Aneka though her part in the story is relatively small. Mabel Cadena's Namora and Alex Livinalli's Attuma make for interesting if somewhat one-dimensional secondary adversaries. Returning supporting cast members include Lupita Nyong'o as the ever-resourceful Nakia who is always fun to watch, Winston Duke who seems to be having the time of his life as Jabari leader M'Baku, Florence Kasumba as Dora Milaje regular Ayo who gets an unexpected promotion, Martin Freeman as CIA Agent with a conscience Everett K. Ross, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus making her second MCU film appearance as the funny but deceptively treacherous Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is an earnest meditation on the process of grieving, a spectacular epic pitting one hidden fantastical empire against another, and a fitting tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman. Ryan Coogler's sequel is heartfelt, ambitious, moving, slightly ponderous, but all-around spectacular. The picture does a fine job of continuing the story of Wakanda while further expanding the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in truly thrilling ways.
MID-CREDITS STINGER
Shuri meets her nephew for the first time.
FRAGMENTS
- In memory of Chadwick Boseman, the Marvel Studios logo that opens the film exclusively features images of Chadwick Boseman and clips of his various appearances from the Marvel Studios films playing over silence
- Making the MCU's Namor the ruler of Talokan (as opposed to Atlantis as in the original Marvel Comics) and rooting him and his people in Mesoamerican culture is simply ingenious
- Imperius Rex!
- I was surprised to see Lake Bell turn up as a doomed CIA scientist
- I was even more surprised to see Michael B. Jordan's uncredited return as Killmonger, appearing to Shuri on the Ancestral Plane in a powerful scene that further adds depth to Shuri's character, continuing the streak of Jordan appearing in every single feature film directed by Ryan Coogler to date
- The revelation that Ross and Val are exes was quite unexpected but very, very amusing
SUPPLEMENTAL STUFF
- Video: Rihanna "Lift Me Up"
