‘Professor Marston And The Wonder Women’ Review: A Funny, Sexy Superhero Origin Story [TIFF]
By Chris Evangelista/Sept. 10, 2017 11:00 am EST
All of this unfolds rather rotely, and Professor Marston and the Wonder Women’s biggest flaw is how stringently it adheres to standard biopic formulas, moving from point A to point B predictably and frequently employing montages to hurry the timeline along. Yet this flaw is easily overcome by the chemistry of its three leads.Evans is charming and likable as William, a man wholly confident in his emotions and desires who cannot be bothered with what society may think. Heathcote, as Olive, does fine work here, playing a character who blossoms before our eyes from shy and reserved to open and adventurous. And then there’s Hall, who is astoundingly good as the brash, somewhat conflicted Elizabeth. Hall is one of the very best actresses working today; a performer who deserves far more renown and recognition than she’s received. Perhaps Professor Marston and the Wonder Women will change that. It should, because Hall commands the screen, appearing in almost every scene. We can’t take our eyes off her as she both gives in to her lusts and desires and also tries to run from them. It’s one of the best performances you’ll see all year.The three performers have dynamite chemistry together, and their relationship feels genuine. It would be easy for a film to portray this love story as strange or abnormal, but Professor Marston and the Wonder Women treats it with great care. The love between William, Elizabeth and Olive comes across as truly genuine, and often utterly romantic.A lesser film might have approached the sexual situations that arise from the relationship in a more exploitative manner. But under the sharp directorial eye of Angela Robinson, Professor Marston and the Wonder Women find just the right note, creating sensitive, passionate and altogether sexy sequences where the trio make love to each other. The very first time the three give in and act on their sexual feelings is shot impeccably, set on the stage in abandoned drama class, the three individuals exploring each other and learning what turns each other on.As Professor Marston and the Wonder Women draws to a close, you’ll find yourself wanting more. The film seems to be rushing towards its conclusion, and some more time spent with some supporting characters, like comic book pioneer Max Gaines (played here by Oliver Platt) would’ve done the film so good. In addition, a framing device, which has William defending Wonder Woman to the head of the Child Study Association of America (Connie Britton) ultimately fizzles out.
Still, it’s hard not to fall for this film. It’s so good natured in its portrayal of the relationship between William, Elizabeth and Olive that it becomes an ultimately sweet, charming film. Here, the superheroes aren’t comic book characters, but flesh and blood humans who dared to embrace a healthy love that society saw as corrupt and indecent. That’s the type of bravery that makes heroes.
/Film Rating: 8 out of 10
