The Black Panther has passed away but “Wakanda is forever” is the main theme and message of the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
The film opens with Shuri (Letitia Wright) desperately trying to find a cure to a mysterious illness her brother, T’Challa, is dying from. Just as she believes she has created a strong enough medicine to buy her brother more time, she learns the devastating news from her mother, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), that her brother is gone. All of this happens even before the opening title sequence which is filled with images and scenes of the late Chadwick Boseman as King T’Challa/Black Panther.
The action leaps forward one year and picks up with Queen Ramonda addressing the United Nations and providing proof of hired mercenaries who were captured by Wakanda’s defense forces as they were attempting to steal vibranium (the indestructible metal found only in the nation of Wakanda). Ramonda is aware that the world believes that without its king, Wakanda is vulnerable. She issues a warning to all nations that any other acts of infiltration and aggression will be considered an act of war against Wakanda.
Only days later, an American ship out in the Atlantic Ocean is searching for vibranium in the depths of the sea when it’s attacked by blue-skinned people who have no problem breathing underwater.
They leave no survivors.
Meanwhile, back in Wakanda Shuri and Ramonda are still struggling with the grief of losing T’Challa when the ruler of the underwater kingdom of Talokan rises out of the water directly in front of them. His name is Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and his people call him Kukulkan, which means the Feather Serpent God. He warns Shuri and Ramonda that the surface world will not stop trying to get vibranium and he won’t allow that to happen.
To both Ramonda and Shuri’s surprise, part of what Namor is wearing is covered in vibranium.
After he leaves, Shuri and Ramonda do some investigating and contact their CIA friend Everett Ross (Martin Freeman). They discover that a brilliant teenage girl created a machine that can find vibranium. Believing Namor and his people will go after her, Shuri and General Okoye (Danai Gurira) leave Wakanda to try and save the girl and bring her back to Wakanda for protection.
Moving and heartfelt, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is an emotional homage to the late Chadwick Boseman and his portrayal of King T’Challa. It’s as much a memorial to Boseman as it is a film about dealing with grief and moving on with life. It also introduces an intriguing and empathetic villain to the film series.
Letitia Wright returns to reprise her role as Shuri, T’Challa’s sister and genius inventor. Wright delivers a solid, emotional performance as a young woman dealing with her grief and guilt, as well as trying to figure out her role now that her brother the King is gone. Wright, however, doesn’t quite have the presence to carry the full weight of the film…but she doesn’t have to. This outing is much more an ensemble anchored by a powerful performance by Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda who is determined to keep Wakanda secure from other nations looking to invade and profit at the nation’s expense.
Danai Gurira also reprises her role as General Okoye whose job it becomes to accompany Shuri and keep her safe. The scenes between Gurira and Wright are some of the best and most entertaining, and the chemistry’s solid between these talented performers.
Tenoch Huerta is well cast as Namor, the leader of an underwater civilization called Tulakan who will do anything to protect his people, including making war with all the nations of the lands.
The wonderful ensemble cast does its best to fill the void left by Boseman’s absence, but it’s still felt since his performance of T’Challa was the heart and soul of the Black Panther character and the Wakanda Kingdom.
The second Black Panther film does suffer from the use of too much CGI, especially with the underwater sequences and the big battle near the end of the film. And the two hours and 41 minutes running time is really pushing it, and many scenes could – and should – have been edited tighter. A few could even have been cut altogether without the film suffering from their loss.
Still, with stirring action scenes, a fantastic ensemble cast, and genuine emotional weight to it, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a fitting tribute to Chadwick Boseman and a Marvel film not to be missed.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, action, and some language
Release Date: November 11, 2022
Directed By: Ryan Coogler