150 Word Review: ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022)
Rest in peace, your majesty
Director Ryan Coogler’s Wakanda Forever is about a family grieving — on-screen and off. His long-awaited sequel to the megahit Black Panther is at its best when it focuses on those King T’Challa left behind after dying from an unnamed disease. The late actor Chadwick Boseman, who exuded warmth and nobility as the ruler of the technologically advanced African country Wakanda, passed away from cancer in 2020 at 43.
Coogler moves the story of the Black Panther forward while honoring his friend’s memory. The result is one of the most surprising and emotional movies in the MCU franchise. Unfortunately, the long CGI action scenes are simultaneously overwhelming and monotonous. That’s the Marvel way.
Angela Basset roars. Her performance deserves an Oscar nom. Seriously. Letitia Wright is the star, incandescent and vulnerable. She is almost outshined by newcomers Tenoch Huerta as Namor, the sexy Mayan Neptune, and Dominique Thorne’s Riri, girl genius.
