This Fourth of July, it is your patriotic duty to go see 'Wonder Woman'

Ahh, the Fourth of July. The most patriotic of American holidays, where people eat hot dogs, drink beer, and talk about American greatness while watching fireworks.

It’s no wonder that many people (wuddup resistance) may not be feeling so great about all that this year. For those people, I’ve got a proposal: Celebrate America’s birthday this year by going to see Wonder Woman.

Yes, I’m serious. Look, calling your senators about health care and marching for science are important, worthy activities, but on the Fourth of July … people are out of their offices? Even real-life superheroes need a two-hour break sometimes, and boy, does Wonder Woman deliver that reprieve and more.

The Fourth of July is all about rah-rah patriotism, right? Walking out of the theater after I saw the film, I felt patriotic AF. If I had some fireworks, I would have lit them right then and there.

And who wouldn't?

Wonder Woman is the kind of pure heroine we want to believe is the best of us. Gal Gadot is enthralling, Chris Pine is a thoroughly charming adoring sidekick, and Patty Jenkins directs powerful battle scenes with finesse.

I teared up from the beauty of women-only Themyscira about three times, and when I watched Gadot cross No Man’s Land in an early stirring World War I scene, I thought that it was very possible I might be able to take on the world with my bare hands.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

If movies are designed as an escape from real-life daily horrors, I can think of no better film to watch on America’s birthday than the incredible story of one woman who kicked ass and took names, all for love, freedom and human rights.

To all the party poopers out there: Yes, I'm aware that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is a producer on Wonder Woman and a percentage of my ticket dollars are going to him. This sucks. But life is full of negotiating compromises, and spending your dollars here sends a powerful message to Hollywood: More movies like this, please. I WANT TO SEE WOMEN KICK ASS AND I WANT TO SEE IT NOW.

So far, that message seems to resonating. Wonder Woman just passed Batman V. Superman as well as Suicide Squad to become the highest-grossing film in the DC verse. That matters. Drive the number even higher this weekend. Be a good solider like Steve Trevor and go see Wonder Woman for America.

Diana isn't technically an American, but of course that's not the point. She's all about liberty, peace and justice for all; values more important than ever in this country but not exactly getting a hero's welcome at the moment. This year, it's worth purposefully celebrating those ideas on America's birthday, along with a hope that better days, full of those ideals, are still to come.