It's perhaps appropriate that the latest Aquaman movie is about a lost kingdom. In many ways, this mini-franchise is just that, a kingdom that could just quietly sink below the cinematic waves.
At least Momoa is going out swinging in 鈥淎quaman and the Lost Kingdom,鈥� an overstuffed tale that goes from desert to ice, steals from other movies like a coked-up magpie and says goodbye at the near-operatic level of a mid-franchise Marvel flick. Much of it doesn鈥檛 happen underwater at all.
鈥淎quaman and the Lost Kingdom鈥� is likely the final installment of the King of Atlantis' storyline for a time. The new heads of in the next decade and none have Aquaman front and center.
Holding it all together is Momoa, and it鈥檚 hard to overstate his charisma, humor and presence. DC Studios may regret deep-sixing this franchise if it doesn鈥檛 find a home for an actor who actually looks like a real-life superhero.
鈥淎quaman and the Lost Kingdom鈥� is equivalent to or 鈥� an attempt to raise the level of the last decent entry by keeping the same overall plot but just throwing money at it 鈥� more locations, more fights, more armies led by commanders in medieval-looking suits of armor riding underwater beasts.
In 2018 鈥� 鈥� he battled his half-brother in the Ring of Fire, trekked to the Sahara to locate a clue about the Sacred Trident, wrecked most of Sicily, found the Hidden Sea, reunited with his mom and united Atlantis, along the way slaughtering more sea creatures than the entire Red Lobster empire.
This time, Aquaman 鈥� again under director James Wan 鈥� must reconcile with his brother (Patrick Wilson, the Ken doll of the deep) and hunt down the villain from the first film, as Black Manta, who is using ancient technology to destroy the globe, super mad at the murder of his dad.
The screenplay by returning writer David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick throws everything at the sinking kitchen sink, including a cute sidekick (a genetically altered octopus) and a rare metallic ore named Orichalcum, described as 鈥渢he greatest power in human history.鈥� It's basically a Kinko's copy of Eternium or Vibranium. Amber Heard is back as Aquaman's wife but this new movie is a brother-brother movie and so she's somewhat sidelined.
Johnson-McGoldrick unfortunately likes referencing other, better movies in the dialogue, like 鈥淐ast Away鈥� and 鈥淗arry Potter,鈥� and layering in terrible puns like, 鈥淧ut a hook in it.鈥� The sparks come from Momoa and Wilson needling each other like siblings do. Aquaman, at his heart, is a goofy, beer-drinking, motorcycle-loving bouncer while his brother is so uptight he'd bring his own coaster to the bar.
The less gloopy visuals and plot liberally steal from 鈥淭he Matrix,鈥� 鈥淧irates of the Caribbean,鈥� 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� 鈥� Martin Short voices a Jabba the Hutt monster fish 鈥� 鈥淛umanji,鈥� 鈥淪pider-Man鈥� and 鈥淔ast & Furious.鈥� But credit goes to layering in some messaging about global warming 鈥� toxic algae, greenhouse gasses and rising acidity levels. There鈥檚 an overused song this time 鈥� 鈥淏orn to be Wild鈥� by Steppenwolf 鈥� but it's not clear if that's for Aquaman, the man who wants to kill him or the Earth.
With rival Marvel at a bit of a crossroads 鈥� especially in the wake of its dropping of actor 鈥� DC, which has suffered its own woes with 鈥淭he Flash,鈥� 鈥淏lue Beetle鈥� and 鈥淪hazam: Fury of the Gods鈥� in 2023 鈥� gets a chance to end the year on a high. 鈥滱quaman and the Lost Kingdom" might not be all that but it keeps its trident high even as the sea reclaims its hero.
鈥淎quaman and the Lost Kingdom,鈥� a Warner Bros. Pictures release that opens in theaters this weekend, is rated PG-13 for 鈥渟equences of sci-fi violence, action and some language.鈥� Running time: 143 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.
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MPAA Definition of PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
