Easily one of the most anticipated films of Phase Four within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever aims to follow in the footsteps of its Academy Award-nominated predecessor. Hopes were raised for a sequel after the success of Black Panther, only to be dashed by the tragic passing of its lead actor Chadwick Boseman. Needless to say, the sequel to the groundbreaking superhero film offers a melancholy even before the title card hits the screen.
Starring Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sees the Wakandans face a new enemy in the form of Namor (Tenoch Huerta), the king of underwater civilisation Talokan who wants to wreak havoc on the surface world.
With Boseman’s death comes the question of how they address his absence, but director Ryan Coogler and co-screenwriter Joe Robert Cole answer this with a heartbreaking introduction that brilliantly lays an emotionally fraught foundation for the narrative. Shuri (Wright)’s frantic efforts and the quiet resignation of Queen Ramonda (Bassett) precede a melee of poignant scenes that beautifully reflects the film’s palpable grief. Within the first few moments, Coogler not only allows the characters but the cast themselves to create a beautiful moment that invites the audiences to collectively mourn the loss of its leading man.
Since the first film’s events, Wakanda continues to distance itself from the rest of the world due to the power of vibranium. Led by a strong-willed Ramonda, the country’s reluctance to share its knowledge continues to estrange world nations and with its advanced tech, other countries regard Wakanda as a threat. But the Queen doesn’t back down – in a charged scene addressing the United Nations, she reiterates her place and clearly spells out that despite its loss, Wakanda is not weak.
The events involving T’Challa also cause Shuri to detach herself from the world, choosing to focus on work and is subsequently unable to move on from her grief. To put it simply, she is lost. Although Ramonda encourages her child to open up to her, it is not until an encounter with Namor, a super-strong Na’vi Aquaman of sorts who flies like a Golden Snitch, do they feel a renewed sense of purpose as a new threat endangers their home.
As it is one of the longer MCU films at nearly three hours, a lot is going on so the narrative occasionally drags. Vengeance-fuelled moments and the ‘us against the world’ sentiments echo those of Black Panther, especially when historical elements fuel the rage of certain characters. The concluding result pushes aside notable subplots involving Nakia (Nyong’o) and newcomer Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), a tech-savvy MIT student who is set to become a prominent character in the MCU. Unsurprisingly, the constant resentment, bitterness and anger of the main characters soon culminate in a CGI-heavy battle scene that is occasionally messy but sees a new hero take charge.
Wakanda Forever‘s narrative drives an empowering tone among its cast, most of whom held prominent roles in Black Panther. Wright stands firmly in the limelight as an emotionally charged protagonist, delivering a performance that is complemented by Bassett and Gurira’s powerful stances. MCU newcomers Coel and Thorne also get stuck in, offering bouts of wisecracking humour that elevate the sisterhood among its principal cast. With the women taking centre stage, Duke and Freeman bring light-hearted moments that not only lift sluggish parts of the narrative but allows Huerta to make a solid impact as the wing-footed, softly-spoken Namor.
Aesthetically, the combination of Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s lush cinematography, Hannah Beachler’s intricate production design and Ruth Carter’s beautiful costume design help bring the film together by seamlessly building the complexity and intricacy of Wakanda and Talokan. Therefore audiences experience a new world that avoids the recent mind-bending trippiness of Thor Love and Thunder and Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, with the anticipation of a further extension to its already vast universe on the horizon. Although Black Panther: Wakanda Forever doesn’t fully reach the lofty heights of its predecessor, it is easily one of the most watchable Marvel films of recent years. But it is not just another instalment in the MCU – it also serves as a deeply moving ode to the late Boseman, delivering a personal poignancy that is rare in the audience-friendly franchise.
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Director: Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole (co-screenwriter)
Stars: Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Winston Duke, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Tenoch Huerta, Dominque Thorne, Martin Freeman, Michaela Coel,
Runtime: 161 minutes
Country: USA
