‘Wonder Woman 1984’ falls short, but doesn’t disappoint

The new DVD releases for Tuesday are topped by a superhero sequel that doesn’t quite live up to the original, but is still pretty super.

The 2017 “Wonder Woman” was a critical and commercial success, with director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot infusing new life into a well-trod genre. Now the dynamic duo is back with “Wonder Woman 1984.” But this time around, things are different for the title character.

As Tribune News Service film critic Katie Walsh explained: “The Diana of 1984 is no longer the wide-eyed innocent we met in the first film. She’s more mature but also sad, and lonely, having experienced war and lost her love, Steve (Chris Pine). In this world of ’80s excess, she saves kids from burglars at the mall and works at the Smithsonian as a cultural anthropologist. But her greater purpose is lacking, until she encounters a powerful ancient crystal, a wishing stone of sorts, being investigated by a new nerdy co-worker, Dr. Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig).”

Walsh wrote that the film doesn’t hit the heights of the original, but it doesn’t disappoint: “‘1984’ doesn’t have the same jaw-dropping impact of ‘Wonder Woman’ (how could it?), but Jenkins maintains a steady hand on the character and her story, giving us more of what we loved about the first film.”

And ultimately, Gadot’s Wonder Woman is a hero worth rooting for: “Why does she want to save the world? Because she believes in humanity, and that’s just what she does,” Walsh wrote.

Also new on DVD for Tuesday

■ “Our Friend”: Dane ( Jason Segel) moves in with Matt (Casey Affleck) and his family after a devastating diagnosis. Based on a true story.

■ “55 Steps”: Patients-rights lawyer and her client help each other transform their lives. Stars Hilary Swank and Helena Bonham Carter.

■ “A Perfect Planet”: Sir David Attenborough delivers dire warnings about our perfect planet in this BBC documentary.

■ “Another Round”: Four pals test the theory that life is better if you are a little bit drunk all the time. Trouble ensues.

New on digital DVD for Tuesday

■ “The Widow”: A mysterious creature known as “The Limping Widow” terrorizes a forest in Russia.

■ “Witness Infection”: A comedy crime thriller involving the Witness Protection Program and zombies.

WARNER BROS. PICTURES/TNS Gal Gadot lassos a few more viewers for her “Wonder Woman” sequel.