IR TV Review: WONDER MAN [Marvel/Disney+]

"Wonder Man" is one of the lesser known superheroes but what the new Marvel series does is rachet down the overarching mythology and make it more self-contained so it doesn't have to completely affect the greater whole. It is interesting since casting Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as an actor with a secret is an interesting play since his other well known role is as Manta in "Aquaman." Here it actually plays as a two hander with Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley)... infamously known for playing The Mandarin in "Iron Man 3". Kingsley, at 82, has done something very interesting in reinventing himself with a sense of humor but not playing comedy. He is undeniable at it but it is a very specific play. He still does his bad guy impresario (he was seen as a bloodthirsty emperor in "Desert Warrior" recently). But Slattery, as a role, is interesting. He was briefly seen in "Secret Invasion" and actually was a high point there. At points, when he is playing an actor playing a scene, the intensity and craft is absolutely stunning. This is not to take away from Abdul Mateen but his character, which he likely knows is not that likable throughout most of the series.

Despite what the potential of the character is over the 8 episodes of the first season, Williams does need to go through a reckoning. The main thing that plays against the series is how meta it is with the Hollywood scene. While this inherently is likely part of what the comic was in a way and how it interrelates to the West Coast Avengers, the series only really sings in two episodes. The final one truly works because of the stakes and delivers in its own way with a coda that does feel earned since the audience has stayed with the character through the eight episodes. The episodes are a half hour so the whole series is digestible, if wanted, in one sitting. There are a couple meta cameos. One works well. The other, though interesting, is a bit from left field. The showrunner, who also made "Shang Chi" knows his tone but it still feels a little off in a way. It at times almost feel pretentious, even though it is really trying to be satire. "She Hulk" got this more, though that had more stakes and bordered on the cusp of parody but it was very specific...and sported Tim Roth with a similar tongue in cheek approach like Kinsgley here.

The other stellar episode that is its own thing features the character of Doorman Davis (played by Byron Bowers). Unlike Wonder Man in Simon Williams, this progression of a cautionary tale over a full episode and is really well implemented with its meta aspect. That said its set up, progression and delivery almost feels like a "What If" but is meant to inform what Williams is dealing with. The wrapper of the series is based on the making of a "Wonder Man" movie by a director. Like "Sentimental Value" at times, it is trying too hard to show the actors journey. Most of these scenes just seem a bit cringey. However what bookends the film in a way, is the film "Midnight Cowboy" which Slattery and Williams see at a repetory theater in Los Angeles when they meet. The parallel that is created between Joe Buck (Williams) and Ratso Rizzo (Slattery) really gives a greater sense of what we are seeing. There are those moments of brilliance.

The best scenes are when Kingsley and Abdul Mateen are alone and Slattery is trying to talk Williams out of his head and make him see the reality of what he needs to see about life (like Rizzo to Buck in a way). It creates a good dynamic that has heart but also reasoning. Slattery has something else happening which informs his motivation. Again it doesn't have really larger implications in the MCU. "Wonder Man" is under the Marvel Spotlight banner here, which makes one think that it is lower budgeted, more character driven fare which can focus on smaller edges of the Marvel Universe. It is a good idea and of course "Wonder Man" with its meta element helps with that, using mostly real, local, Hollywood locations. Undeniably though the reason to watch "Wonder Man"...no offense to Abdul-Mateen, is Kingsley...simply because of the unique path he continues to forge with this character. B-

By Tim Wassberg