Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Movie Review

Cast: Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Lupita N'Yongo, Tenoch Huerta, Danai Gurira, Micaela Coel, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis Dreyfus
Director: Ryan Coogler

Born out of necessity than narrative need, Black Panther 2 aka Wakanda Forever faces an insurmountable task as it tackles both the real-life death of its protagonist and the challenge of toppling its Oscar-nominated 2018 outing.

Grief casts a pall over proceedings, which at times verge on funereal and leave you doubting whether in some parts, there was any acting needed. (The Marvel Studios opener is perhaps one of the most sombre ever presented, but is breathtaking in its respectful silence and tone.)

Tackling themes of colonialism, western incursions, politicking and destiny, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wastes no time in opening with the offscreen death of Chadwick Boseman's King T'Challa, his scientist sister Shuri (Letitia Wright, easily the film's MVP) unable to save him, despite desperate DNA scrabbling.

With Queen Ramonda (a powerful Angela Bassett) forced to take power to heal the kingdom, Wakanda faces another set of challenges one year after T'Challa's death - the outside world fears the secretive kingdom because of its access to the potentially-weaponised vibranium and an attack on their own world in the form of a hitherto unknown neighbouring kingdom led by Tenoch Huerta's Namor.

When Namor threatens to kill a scientist outside Wakanda who has been building equipment to find Vibranium, Shuri, Ramonda and Okoye (a ferocious Danai Gurira) set out to save the day - and prevent war on all sides.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has a balancing act to manage.

And it does so in parts, but in truth, not always successfully with a story that's less than vital to extol. 

Feeling stretched and bloated in parts, while deeply mournful and respectful in others, this is a Marvel film that feels unlike anything else that's passed in the MCU. While it still has third act issues in that everything has to end with a major conflict, and large parts of the movie feel like they wouldn't be out of place in a James Cameron Avatar film, there's a lot of care that's gone into the depth of characters again - even if the story is more disposable.

Wright is easily the film's heart and soul, and she seizes on her reluctant moment with utter commitment. Wrestling grief for T'Challa, the sadness of destiny and the guardianship of her kingdom, Shuri becomes an exciting presence in Wakanda Forever, a careful and considerate would-be leader born out of the worst reasons.

Huerta's Namor is initially well-sketched out, with motivations stemming back from colonisation but at times, he becomes just a figurehead of another kind of invader, a man whose actions don't match his ethos.

The costuming throughout also deserves a mention, as Ruth Carter's vibrant outfits bring Wakanda vividly once again to life. And unfortunately, in the downtime of the film, there are many, many moments to admire what's being worn.

It comes down to this - regardless of the need to honour Boseman, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is too long; it could easily have lost some 20 minutes of story and not suffered - but it is probably one for the Marvel fans than those tired of the MCU cinematic dominance. It may be the most difficult MCU movie to have been made, and won't have a shot at repeating the Oscar potential of the first.

In truth, parts of the story feel utterly familiar and occasionally formulaic. Were it not for Wright and Bassett's performance which elevate proceedings beyond measure, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's desire to explore grief and suffering would have been one of the franchise's most conflicted entrants to date, with elements that don't quite come together and gel as perhaps they should have.