Joey Magidson
The DC Extended Universe sleeps with the fishes. Yes, the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom marks the end of the DCEU, with James Gunn set to take over a new incarnation. So, this film is coming out with a stink to it. There’s an extra set of chains on it, helping to sink it to the bottom of the ocean. Well, I’m also here to say that the movie is also just sometimes outright bad, so it may have always been a lost cause. There’s ridiculousness and silliness throughout, leading to occasional moments of ironic joy, but as a quality superhero sequel? Nope, this is not it. The flick is all wet, awash in so many reshoots that it’s not hard to see where scenes are stitched together with sticks and spit. Try as they might, this all is more exhausted than exhilarating.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is not good at all, but it’s somewhat fun in spite of that. Much of what was the case last time with Aquaman is the case here, but the craftsmanship is much lower. You have to turn your brain even further off, and this time, I just couldn’t do it. So, the DCEU will not be going out on a high note. Instead, it ends with more of a whimper than a bang.
When we catch up with Arthur Curry / Aquaman (Jason Momoa) as he’s balancing being the King of Atlantis with his duties as a new father. He’s much more fond of the latter than the former, though he’s going to have to step up when Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) comes for him again. He’s still seeking vengeance on Aquaman for the death of his father, and this time he’s willing to take the entire planet down with him if it means achieving his goal.
After an accidental discovery of an ancient evil force by Dr. Stephen Shin (Randall Park), Black Manta wields the power of the Black Trident. This makes him more powerful and much more dangerous. To combat him and save his kingdom, Aquaman is told by his mother Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) that he needs his brother Orm (Patrick Wilson), the imprisoned former King of Atlantis. One desert jailbreak later and Orm is fighting with him, protesting the whole way. If they can put aside their differences, they might just be able to stop Black Manta from unleashing the malevolent powers of the Lost Kingdom, which would destroy the world as we know it. It’ll take the two of them, Atlanna, Aquaman’s queen Mera (Amber Heard), and all of the other kingdoms to do it. Cue a big fight.
Jason Momoa is still having a good time, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II seems to be enjoying his more broadly villanous turn here, but no one else really is. Nicole Kidman and Amber Heard almost appear on screen against their will, while Patrick Wilson mostly is complaining about how much he hates his brother. Randall Park has a bigger role this time around, but it’s entirely to push the nonsensical plot forward. Returning here is Dolph Lundgren and Temuera Morrison in paternal roles, hopefully collecting solid paychecks, while Martin Short does provide a very funny voice in a one scene cameo. The rest of the supporting cast includes Pilou Asbæk, Indya Moore, Vincent Regan, and Jani Zhao, plus more.
Director James Wan and writer David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick are probably doing the best they can, given the endless reshoots that occurred here, but so much feels off. The pair also receive Story By credits, alongside Momoa himself and Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, and I’m sure they were constantly tinkering. It just feels that way. The first act is a mess, with characters bizarrely not in certain scenes, while later on, others serve as seemingly last minute plot descriptors. So much feels reworked at the last minute, very little of it actually sticks together. A little more than halfway through, it finds a groove for a bit, but the third act is exhausting. Less talk about substances that will destroy the world, more sequences with Aquaman’s sidekick Topo, an octopus that has human-level intelligence. That’s the movie we want to see.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is mostly a chore to sit through, punctuated by some bits of zany fun. The vibe is just off here, probably due in part to the whole endeavor feeling pointless, given the end of the DCEU. The film will have its fans and its defenders, but it’s mostly destined just to be forgotten about. Alas.
SCORE: ★★1/2
Reading this review felt like you were telling the DCEU to close its eyes and think about getting a little place with a cow and some pigs and maybe a chicken, and telling it that it can tend to the rabbits, before pulling out a gun.
Ha, little bit.