‘Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom’ Review: Jason Momoa film fails to make a splash

While the kids and the girls got ‘The Little Mermaid’, the boys and the men got their share of dopamine when DCEU (DC Extended Universe) dropped ‘Aquaman’ in 2018. The story of an oceanic superhero who has to save his clan from destruction found many takers thanks to its very good-looking poster boy – Jason Momoa. Five years later, a sequel ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ is out, perhaps just in time to cash in on the superhero genre and remind folks that in a world of flying superheroes, there is one that lives beneath the ocean as well.

Aquaman or Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) is crowned the King of Atlantis, is married to Mera (Amber Heard) and they have a son together. The film has Aquaman teaming up with his half-brother, Orm (Patrick Wilson) to hunt down David Kane (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). The brothers work together to stop David or Black Manta from killing Aquaman’s family. The reason is revenge and also the urge to fix his suit, which needs some elements from the Atlantis.

Unlike the first ‘Aquaman’ film, this one is more or less gimmicky and feels like an effort to make a quick buck rather than take the franchise ahead. While Momoa sleepwalks through the film for most of the scenes, it is actually his sidekick Patrick Wilson who shines in several scenes. For anyone who just wants to have a good time at the theatre with the action scenes and Momoa’s somewhat dry humour, the film does offer bang for its buck.

Fans who expected more might be in for a disappointment because, in ‘The Lost Kingdom’, the storyline seems to be mostly missing throughout the film. The underwater scenes and VFX look pale in comparison to what James Cameron served us in ‘Avatar : The Way of Water’. Do not go in expecting a great superhero sequel, and you won’t be let down.