REVIEW: AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM

3.5/5

A Fish Out Of Water. 

124 Mins. Starring: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Amber Heard, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Randall Park, Dolph Lundgren, Temuera Morrison, Martin Short & Nicole Kidman. Director: James Wan. In: Theatres.

Lost at sea, there were many anchors making sure the waterlogged 'Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom' would sink without a trace come Christmastime. Especially after 'The Flash' in the pan year DC had at the box-office, despite representing for new heroes like the 'Blue Beetle'. All these movies have been so much 'Shazam' fun (I mean, how can you not go nuts at the return of Michael Keaton's Batman and even more in all these multiverses?), but as new DC leader James Gunn hit reset in the same year he concluded his great 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' trilogy for Marvel, it seemed like his new team was merely cutting limbs before they went cape fear gangrene, with no hopes of growing back in a year like the claw. Now, with Zack building his own 'Star Wars' galaxies over on Netflix with 'Rebel Moon', the Synderverse is officially over. We don't even get the cut post-credits scene of Ben Affleck's Batman like we did with Aquaman in the fun 'Flash'. However, the last bite of this fish is f#####g funny, and this so-called 'Lost Kingdom' from James Wan finds itself as a fun film to conclude the Justice League's reign from Atlantis.

Still, how do you expect spectators to show up for a sequel where there aren't much in the way of stakes seen as this is it? Especially with Gunn already expressing a desire to recast Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa as another Detective Comics character (Lobo), before this movie even had a questionably long-delayed, trailer come out. You can't just tease the fangirls with a new black suit for this orange man like Syracuse. Momoa was facing his own backlash, baring the brunt of Vin Diesel and a family of fans who blamed him for 'Fast X's' poor performance at the summer box-office. Look, even Tom Cruise jumping off cliffs on choppers, straight on to runaway trains knows nothing was beating the 'Barbenheimer' monster last year. Besides, Jason's fun and fancy-free villain was the best thing about 'X' that needs to be rebranded like Twitter to avoid that blood is thicker than engine oil cliché. Why this Pride of Gypsies has gone from someone fans at conventions take photographs with, literally brushing off their boyfriend, to tabloid fodder for Dad-bod shaming is beyond me. Either way, the ever lovable Jason who knows how to end things amicably and beautifully (just look at his mature situation with both Lisa Bonet, and Lenny Kravitz) is clearly relishing this one last ride. And if this is it, he's at least succeeded in doing something even bigger than uniting the seven. He's turned 'Aquaman' from a punchline in to one of the best superhero hits and redemption arc ever since Robert Downey Jr.'s Stark realism put a reactor in his iron lung.

Shakespeare in the sea may be the case here, beyond realms of underwater worlds and a Brick throwing trident that sometimes anchors a hammer of Thor sound. But what cinematic caped crusade doesn't crib off the others that came before it? Momoa's Arthur Curry literally calls his brother Loki, but tongue-in-cheek and nice nod to the rival he once wrote "f### Marvel" on a fan's poster, Jason's jovial jokes with Patrick Wilson (who is clearly having as mush fun as he is) are a joy. Especially when they run with it all. But what's that floating in the water. The elephant in the bedroom that really threatened to make this 'Lost Kingdom' take on too much water and drown was the appearance of Amber Heard. Fans petitioned for her removal after her trial with Johnny Depp went public and social media turned into a slap for all, punching down asylum. We can't tell if she's being shoehorned or sidelined here, but she still brings it in what may be her last role in this unforgiving industry that turncoats takes sides quicker than their memories of all they said and shunned before. There's enough star power here to distract us from all that, though. Names like Nicole Kidman and Dolph Lundgren (currently enjoying dual franchise time with this and 'Expend4bles'), and even Bobba Fett (Temuera Morrison being the lighthouse keeper who will set you right on the path home). Whereas Randall Park and 'Only Murders In The Building' legend Martin Short in mo-cap, bring the comic relief. But after his own Manhattan Project with the 'Watchmen', it's Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's new and improved Black Manta that shows us if this is it for these high-seas, maybe we have found Jonathan Majors' conquering Kang replacement. And on a seahorse he rides, this buddy comedy that takes on climate change is one of the most expensive films ever made, and it deserves more than washing up onto a dry January. But time and tide, love. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Aquaman', 'The Flash', 'Blue Beetle'.