By Robert Yaniz Jr.

DAY 17 OF THE 2018 HOLIDAY BINGE

The underwater DC hero headlines a fun but vastly convoluted journey into the depths of Atlantis.

THE HYPE

It’s a day that many comic book fans have been anxiously awaiting and one that has been a running joke for so many others. But there’s no denying it now. Aquaman is upon us. Direct from his supporting role in the lackluster Justice League, Jason Momoa and director James Wan (Furious 7, The Conjuring) take audiences into the heart of Atlantis. Delving into these unexplored narrative waters is a risky proposition, especially given the dicey DC Films track record. So does Arthur Curry’s big solo debut sink or swim?

THE STORY

Imagine putting Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, King Arthur, The Little Mermaid and Thor in a blender and pouring in some CGI soup inspired by your high school marine biology class. That sums up Aquaman quite nicely. Arthur (Momoa) and half-brother Orm (Wan favorite Patrick Wilson) are destined to clash over the throne, sending Arthur and Princess Mera (Amber Heard) on a quest for the weapon he needs to unite the seven kingdoms and restore peace to the underwater. Insert fish-out-of-water (or vice versa) gags here.

THE CAST

Aquaman‘s story essentially applies a zillion familiar tropes to an underwater setting, but the cast frequently makes this pulpy adventure fun enough to overlook the many flaws on the page. Momoa effectively builds on the surfer-bro charms from earlier appearances, and Heard makes a fine leading lady/action heroine. The real standout — for good or ill — is Wilson, who rabidly chews on the computer-generated scenery. Beyond that, Aquaman is jam-packed with an outstanding and sadly underused supporting cast.

THE PRODUCTION

For much of its protracted 143-minute runtime, Aquaman is a film at odds with itself. One moment the film is waxing poetically about our hero’s tragic backstory, then it’s time for a Shrek-esque bonding moment. It’s clear that DC Films is in recalibration mode, trying to nail down a tone that ensures the same consistency as that other studio. The effects in Aquaman are also hit and miss (Pirates of the Caribbean-esque fish people, ahoy!), but the visual design of Atlantis itself, from its vibrant society to its clothing, screams imagination.

THE VERDICT

Aquaman accomplishes what it needs to: establishing the titular hero as the viable head of a franchise. In doing so though, it leans too hard on mythologizing his world, explaining its culture without ever really making it feel tangible at all. Now that this groundwork has been established and the seeds sowed for the inevitable sequel, perhaps Wan could return to dive into an ambitious new story without the burden of introducing audiences to Atlantis. There’s certainly enough to salvage in Aquaman to imagine a far superior follow-up.

Aquaman stars Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman and is directed by James Wan.