The Rip has a solid first two acts. The way the tension and suspense build is incredibly gripping. Who’s lying? Who’s trying to get the money? Who’s the traitor? Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are one of the best duos in movies, and they’re an absolute joy to watch here as well. Unfortunately, what brings the movie down are the underwhelming action set pieces and the disappointing final act. The action scenes are hard to follow due to lame shaky cam and overly dark visuals. The final act also devolves into generic Netflix action slop. Overall, it’s an enjoyable time, and I was at least never bored.
Many people are always quick to question why Marvel makes shows about heroes that “no one cares about.” Yes, there can be misses like Eternals or Echo, but there can also be huge wins like Guardians of the Galaxy, and now, Wonder Man. This show is amazing. It’s an incredibly unique and well-written series about a man who just wants to land his dream acting role while secretly hiding his superpowers. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is an absolute Wonder in the lead role and has excellent chemistry with Ben Kingsley, who reprises his MCU role as Trevor Slattery. It was great to see Trevor explored more deeply as a character and his relationship with the lead, Simon. The story is packed with engaging drama, strong writing, and a lot of heart. This is exactly the kind of creative risk I want to see Marvel take more often.