"Within Marvel's latest miniseries "Wonder Man," there's a scene where thespian actor and former terrorist Trevor Slattery (Sir Ben Kingsley) laments to a fictionalized version of Joe Pantoliano: "Acting isn't a job. It's a calling. It's the single most consequential thing anyone could do in their life." This occurs after Pantoliano patronizes him and his new friend Simon Williams ( Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). It's also the same philosophy that underpins Slattery and Williams' friendship, the driving force that powers this ambitious buddy superhero comedy."
"He struggles as a day player whose selfishness and overanalytical approach undermine his talent. On a day that includes him getting fired from an "American Horror Story" episode and his ex-girlfriend Vivian ( Olivia Thirlby) moving out of their apartment, a lonesome Williams meets Slattery at a repertory screening of "Midnight Cowboy." Because he possesses encyclopedic knowledge and a love of acting, Williams fanboys Slattery about his pre-Mandarin career, and Slattery chooses to impart his knowledge and classic Hollywood experience to the aspiring actor."
"However, they both harbor a secret: Simon possesses unstable ionic powers that are activated when experiencing intense anger and/or frustration. And Trevor is an undercover agent, reluctantly working for the US Department of Damage Control under the supervision of Agent Cleary ( Arian Moayed), tasked with spying on Simon. The MCU is occasionally at its finest when it paves its own mythos."
Wonder Man follows Simon Williams, a second-generation Haitian-American struggling actor whose selfishness and overanalysis undercut his talent. Simon encounters Trevor Slattery, a thespian with classic Hollywood knowledge who mentors him and reignites his ambitions. Simon obsesses over an audition for a remake tied to his late father's favorite film and believes the role is his destiny. Both men conceal dangerous truths: Simon harbors unstable ionic powers triggered by intense anger, and Trevor secretly works for the US Department of Damage Control, assigned to surveil Simon. Their friendship drives efforts to revive careers while navigating secrecy and potential betrayal.
Read at Roger Ebert
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