Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Review

A meditative spectacle that falls just shy of greatness

It’s been four years since 2018’s Black Panther debuted, setting up the world of Wakanda in a broader sense after being introduced in Captain America: Civil War, setting the stage for Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa/Black Panther to portray the character for many years to come. His last appearance as the character was in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, before the tragic turn of events that took his life. Boseman had been diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, the same year he landed the role of Black Panther, and battled it to the bitter end, leaving behind a lasting legacy as the famed character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby that will forever resonate with fans.

However, as with all things, the show must go on, and Black Panther is still a pivotal character in Marvel Comics, as well as the MCU, whether it’s Boseman or someone else in the role. The conversation over recasting began early on and many had viable arguments for and against it, but a sequel was coming regardless. Director Ryan Coogler returned to direct the sequel, which had to be restructured entirely into something that could address Boseman’s absence while forging ahead in an honorable way.

Now, the sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has been released to the masses, taking on the tremendous challenge of moving forward without Boseman in the lead and paying proper respect to his loss, while passing the torch to the future. It’s no easy task, that’s for sure, and one that burdens the film in many ways, which toggles between a heavy-handed tone of remembrance to a superhero spectacle and back again, giving it a bit of an identity crisis at times. It’s hard to have a good time at a funeral, but Wakanda Forever definitely gives it a go, which is what the film sometimes feels like.

SPOILERS

It’s impossible to give a thorough review without spoilers, so for those that have yet to see the film, I’d advise skipping this portion and coming back after you’ve seen it. Everything I’ve said thus far should be enough to give you an idea of what you’re in for, and whether or not you should venture out to see it, but the rest of this review will dive into some very specific aspects of the film, both the things that make it work and those that don’t.

Boseman’s death is handled before the opening credits even begin, showing T’Challa’s scientist sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright), and their mother, Ramonda (Angela Bassett) facing the moment of his demise, before leading into a celebratory funeral inside the walls of Wakanda. It’s a somber and sobering moment that sets a tone of mourning immediately, making the film, essentially, a funeral of sorts, that goes from procession to ceremony to reception. It’s a tall order to be sure, and Coogler should be commended for taking the best swing possible, even if it falls short in many areas.

So, let’s start with the good, shall we?

Tenoch Huerta as Namor – A solid performance, but the character feels like a take on the character, rather than a representation of his comic-book counterpart. Huerta has great presence and comes off as menacing and powerful, but the brash, abrasive, cunning, and egomaniacal manner of his comic book persona is barely skimmed. Namor in the comics is kind of fun in that way, as he takes no shit from anyone, and isn’t afraid to show it. You could argue that Huerta’s Namor is similar, which he is, but there’s a quotient missing from his live-action performance that could’ve used more polish. Still, linking Namor to a Mayan origin makes perfect sense and works well, giving the MCU’s underwater world a distinct difference from DC’s already established Atlantis in Aquaman, which I’m sure was a consideration when making Black Panther 2. It’s got a dark, dangerous, yet expansive and beautiful vibe to it, which is exceptionally different from DC’s underwater kingdom, which is far more bright and vibrant. Namor’s origin is also quite interesting, and he calls himself a mutant at one point, which may have been added purposely, as the MCU slowly slogs its way to reintroducing the X-Men.

Danai Gurira as Okoye – She shows amazing emotion throughout, just as she did in the first film, and faces a strong challenge to her role as the leader of Wakanda’s army. There’s a great scene between her and Bassett that shows the true depth of both actors’ ability to pull some serious dramatic punches. It’s almost like they showed up for a serious drama and forgot they were in a comic-book film. The death of Bassett’s Ramonda later in the film sets up a tremendous opportunity for Okoye to find redemption after being stripped of her title after a failed mission, but like many great set-ups in Wakanda Forever, the payoff never comes. Still Gurira is once again a terrific addition to the film (and the MCU in general), and it’s great to see her shine again in the franchise.

Angela Bassett as Ramonda – She’s such a great actress and she shows up for this, lending exceptional skill and range to the proceedings. Bassett is so good that it feels like she’s acting in a different movie at times, and I mean that in a good way. Although she may not look it, as she doesn’t seem to age at all, Bassett is the Anthony Hopkins of Wakanda Forever, which is her last turn as the character, given that she dies at the hand of Namor, essentially wiping the slate clean and allowing Shuri to step into the light in this strangely tragic family. T’Chaka was killed in Captain America: Civil War, and now both T’Challa and Ramonda have gone on the astral plane, leaving Shuri as the next in line to pick up the pieces.

Letitia Wright as Shuri– She’s so endearing that you can’t help but want her to win. As in the comics, making Shuri the Black Panther was the right choice, and her path to that point is built in a great hero’s journey kind of way. She’s reluctant and unsure of herself, let alone the role of the Black Panther, and the tension in her rising to the challenge is great, including the most surprising guest star in the film.

After taking the heart-shaped herb and going into the astral plane, Shuri is surprised to see that she encounters Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger, rather than her mother or brother. It was a bold risk, and an unexpected one for sure, although Shuri’s trajectory after that meeting is a bit of a muddled mess in terms of where her head is. Shuri’s reveal as Black Panther is a cool scene, but her sudden shift to wanting to be Black Panther and embrace that aspect of her heritage didn’t come together as smooth and great as it should have.

And that’s one of the biggest problems with Wakanda Forever. It feels like so many payoff scenes come far too quick and without ample build up, leaving out a scene or two that was needed to take it to greater heights. Okoye attempting to save Romanda after being ousted by her and unable to do so should’ve given her some serious pain to deal with, as she would never be able to win back the Queen’s approval again. This causes some interesting damage to her character, which isn’t addressed by the time the finale arrives, as they’re too busy putting her in a new costume and giving her a second round with Attuma, one of Namor’s fiercest warriors who bested her early on. This, too, should’ve been a more poignant scene, but it’s glossed over in a race to the finish finale.

Which leads me to my bigger gripes with the film, which range from dialogue, editing, VFX, and the addition of characters that just didn’t offer anything to the already packed film.

While Wakanda Forever attempts some comedy here and there, it rarely works, as the tone is just all off. Again, we’re at a funeral here, and it almost feels like you’re not supposed to laugh, even if it’s a welcome break from the heavier scenes. It’s not that comedy couldn’t work in the film, it’s just that the comedy injected doesn’t. Shuri and Okoye arguing over make-up reminded me of the “Did he freeze?” joke from the first film that always felt goofy, rather than humorous.

Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross is back and is basically useless here. He does little more than just answer the phone throughout. Seriously. It’s revealed that he was married to the current SHIELD director, Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, played by Julia Louis Dreyfus, who has a glorified cameo here, setting up her presence as the newish Nick Fury after appearing in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. She seems a lot less in the know than Fury, however, and it’s still kind of a wonder where her allegiances fall. Knowing even a little bit about what her goals at SHIELD (and the MCU in general) are, would serve to invest her presence more, but that’s all we get. Hopefully, they find a better way to present her role in the MCU, but for now it’s a bit confusing.

Another character that really doesn’t belong in the film is Riri Williams. Dominique Thorne is fine as the young scientist, but it feels more like an excuse to have Iron (Wo)man, aka Ironheart, in the movie than to introduce a cool and interesting new character that has a part to play in the film’s plot other than a backup. Williams is more than a little glossed over and doesn’t offer much in the way of progressing Black Panther’s story, so it’s an odd inclusion that reeks of MCU meddling, rather than a genuine addition to the film. Surely, her solo show will offer more about who she is and what makes her a viable character in the MCU, but this just feels like a lead-in to that and it wastes precious time in Wakanda Forever.

In terms of the plot, it basically revolves around Namor wanting to keep his kingdom hidden and safe from the rest of the world, as he believes they would just come and try to take it for themselves, mostly due to there being a significant source of Vibranium there. He seeks to ally himself with Wakanda in an effort to preemptively strike against the surface world and take them all down in an effort to rule, rather than be ruled, I suppose. Ultimately, his plan does the opposite of what he’s trying to protect, and you’d expect more from someone that’s been around as long as he has. We are frequently inundated with villains that just want to take over and rule Earth, and that’s gotten to be pretty tired over time, but the comics have been doing it for almost a century. It’s a staple of the genre, so we kind of accept it and can let it be, so long as the characters, action, and outside narrative are entertaining. Wakanda Forever teeters on that edge.

The CGI is greatly improved, albeit with a few questionable sequences, and Coogler should be commended for creating some truly epic and stunning visuals throughout, but the action scenes frequently get clumsy and difficult to follow. Some lessons were learned from the first film, while others were repeated. Editing and pacing are a real problem for Coogler and while I can forgive a lot given the immense task before him, he needs to sharpen his tools in that arena or hire someone that can do it for him. The Russo brothers had no issue capitalizing on the fight choreography of Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War, but it’s never been better than that in the solo films, which is a shame.

When I think about great end fights, I think of movies like Die Hard, with John McClane and Karl beating the ever-loving shit out of each other, or the bout in Road House between Dalton and Jimmy, or the rain-soaked battle between Riggs and Mr. Joshua in Lethal Weapon. There are tons more, but my point is that those fights really went for it. The filmmakers understood the stakes and put on a show for the audience. I don’t understand why Coogler and so many other MCU filmmakers (The Russo Brothers excluded, as they also understood the assignment) fail to grasp this. It’s ultimately what the audience is there for. Why are they always pulling punches?  

The mid-credits scene is a fairly clever way to bring back T’Challa in some form for the future, which shows that a great deal of thought went into securing a legacy for the character that would eventually allow for T’Challa to be Black Panther again, even if it’s his offspring. It makes for a beautiful moment and restores some hope for the future. However, Shuri is well-placed to be Black Panther for a good while before that happens, which I think is a welcome transition in the wake of Boseman’s loss.

Wakanda Forever always had the unenviable task of being not just a sequel, but a tribute to Boseman. A sequel is hard enough to pull off as it is, and I commend all involved for giving it their best shot. On the whole, I enjoyed Wakanda Forever much more than the first film, even if it still struggles in multiple areas. I was emotionally invested in many of the key characters and appreciated Coogler stepping things up, even if he’s still finding his visual style amidst the big-budget arena. The film suffers from not knowing how much or how little of Boseman should be mentioned in the film and his memory takes a backseat for a big chunk of the film after the opening, only to return at the end to remind us we are still at a funeral.

I feel like his presence could’ve been felt in more creative ways rather than a somber montage at the end, which is likely a byproduct of being too reserved when dealing with the subject matter. Bosemen would surely appreciate the tribute, but in the end Boseman is gone, and it’s impossible to really know how he’d feel about any of it. His legacy with the character will survive (the ending of Avengers: Endgame alone will be revisited for eons), but Wakanda Forever is a step in the right direction of healing beyond his loss and looking to the future, which is something the film does literally and figuratively, both for the characters in the film and the audience at large. In that way, Wakanda Forever is a soaring success.

Coming up on The Way of the Shirey:

I’ll be talking about Andor, and how it’s the most well-produced, yet inherently boring Star Wars adaptation to date, and a look ahead at the new season of Yellowstone, Tulsa King, and anything else that tickles my fancy. I will also be revving up some more unboxing videos and YouTube shenanigans in the coming months, as well as some incentives for paid subscribers to this Substack. In terms of a new podcast, that’s something that will develop into the new year, as I put together how I want to approach it. I have a number of big projects in the works right now, and will soon offer up what those may be, but it’s still a little early. Stay tuned. If you’re a subscriber already, I give you my heartfelt thanks, whether it’s free or paid. For my paid subs, I’m grateful for your contributions, which help me to share my voice free of outside influences working for “the man”. Until next time, remember to love what you love.