Counter-counter-critiquing Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman

First there was Wonder Woman. Then it was announced that Gal Gadot would be playing (at least in cameo) the role in the upcoming Batman/Superman movie (whatever it's being called this week).  Then people started criticizing the casting. Then people started criticizing the criticism. Then people started criticising the — oh, wait, that's this post.

Let's look at the criticisms of the casting Charles Webb summed up and then tried to shoot down.

10. People were immediately and briefly dismissive

Webb apparently doesn't follow Twitter, where when you retweet an post, sometimes all you have room to do is say, "No."

9. She's Just a Model, Right?

Yes, a semi-stupid criticism. No, she's not being hired just because someone thinks she looks good in a bathing suit. Being a model does not mean lacking in acting talent, and a simple check of IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2933757/) has show that while Gadot hasn't exactly been doing Shakespeare she has some acting creds.

8. She Wasn't Very Good in the Fast & Furious Movies

Not being an afficionado of those films, I only know what I've skimmed on YouTube. She's not great, but she's also not called on to be great. What I saw indicates a reasonably forceful personality and the ability to not trip over the furniture.

7. She Doesn't Look Like Wonder Woman

Webb dismisses this with some examples, and, sure, pre-casting for body type can be sort of goofy to some degree — Michael Keaton, for example, pulled off a great Batman, albeit by having Batman wearing rubber armor rather than being a deft acrobat in Spandex.  But those study shots of Nicholas Cage as Superman give a counter-example of body type being important to the rule, unless you're going to make the role something very different.  

Gadot is too skinny. That's hard to get around. It is a correctable condition, in the movie biz (see Linda Hamilton in T1 vs T2), but it's an understandable reaction. I think Wonder Woman's biceps should be wider around than I can reach with my hand. I think her chest should not look bony.  (I also think she should not be a size 48DD cup, but that's not an issue with Gadot.)

6. Why Isn't She Being Played by Jaimie Alexander (or "Insert Fan-Favorite Actress Here")?!

Webb probably gets more of this sort of thing, at a site like Topless Robot, than most people do.  The "my favorite actor for the part is X" is regular public bitching in stories that people care for. Directors and Producers and Casting types make their decisions for a variety of reasons, some good, some bad.  Saying you won't watch a movie with WW in it unless she's played by actress X is silly, but being disappointed is okay.  Let's see how the movie turns out.

5. Why Does Wonder Woman Have to Make Her Debut in Superman and Batman's Movie?

Okay, that WW hasn't had a movie yet, or even announced yet, remains a doltish move on Warners' part. That said, I agree with Webb that, Hey, look, Wonder Woman's going to be appearing in a movie is a legitimate thing to celebrate, especially if that appearance turns into a franchise.  It's better than nothing (which is what we've had so far) and shows that an actual movie could follow — and if Warners isn't contemplating that (and considering it in the casting here), then they really are idiots.

4. This Choice Is Bad for Feminism

The critique seems to be that a fashion model is not a good role model, therefore having Wonder Woman show up in a movie is a bad thing for little girls to see.

Um … only if Gadot actually does a bad job of it, or if she then goes on tour and tells girls that if they get regular teeth whitening and vie for "Little Miss Duluth" that they can become welcomed by society.  

Webb has it right when he notes, "Sometimes, feminism is a woman who served her country's military and would later join one of the biggest action franchises on Earth (while still being mother to a small child)."

I look forward to the debate over what WW's movie costume should look like — old classic, late classic, current comic book, or with pants.

3. Seriously, Did You See Sucker Punch?

This isn't criticism about Gadot, but about Zach Snyder. It (could) hold true no matter who Snyder had in the cast as WW. We will see.

2. Ugh, That Accent!

Really?  Because, y'know, Wonder Woman isn't from Omaha, Nebraska. She's from an isolated magical island populated by a tribe of women from Ancient Greece.  Granted, Gadot's accent isn't Greek, it's Israeli, but it's not a barrier to understanding her and gives her an appropriate exotic sound. 

I agree with Webb here.

1. Some Variation of "Get This Girl a Sandwich"

This is a variation of #7, and Webb dismisses it (again). He even criticizes it a bit for being inappropriately fixated on body type (skinny women need love, too!).

But I still feel it's a legitimate criticism, if the character is going to be similar to the character in the comics — she needs to look  like someone who could pick up an elephant or punch out Darkseid.  She can't look frail. She needs to be in vibrant, solid, good shape.  Someone too skinny is as incorrect for the role as someone too flabby — and I say that as a somewhat flabby person who would not make a good Superman or Wonder Woman (body hair notwithstanding).

And, all that said, I suspect that Gadot will be bulked up some by the time the camera starts to roll — I'd expect it to be part of her contract (with an option to extend).  Which won't make the original criticism invalid, but show that it's not an uncorrectable criticism.