'Aquaman 2' review: Jason Momoa DC sequel marks end of an era – USA TODAY
The present run of DC comic-book films is peacing out, and earlier than saying goodbye, it’s leaving us with Jason Momoa getting moist on by a child in addition to an octopus driving a seahorse. So, thanks?
Momoa’s large lug who talks to fish has one action-packed quest left in him with the sequel “Aquaman and the Misplaced Kingdom.” Director James Wan’s new Atlantean journey (★★½ out of 4; rated PG-13; in theaters Friday) releases at a time of transition, when superhero movies have misplaced a few of their luster and a rebooted DC cinematic universe – headed by James Gunn and Peter Safran – arrives in 2025. However the film neither sinks nor swims: It’s aggressively positive, floating alongside as a breezy sufficient outing – and a brotherly one – with none notably spectacular strokes.
Since his final solo movie in 2018, Justice Leaguer (and king of Atlantis) Arthur Curry (Momoa) has additionally added husband and pop to his resume. But he’s struggling to get his bearings: He’s dedicated to toddler Arthur Jr., although has a tough time balancing his parental and royal obligations. Alongside his spouse Mera (Amber Heard), Aquaman is bored coping with political councils and seems like he’s not lower out for this high-profile king gig.
He simply wants any person to punch actually exhausting. Previous foe Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) returns with revenge in his coronary heart, obsessive about discovering Atlantis, burning down the place and killing all of Aquaman’s family members. The supervillain finds a magical artifact from Atlantean lore referred to as the Black Trident and turns into possessed by an historic evil.
Manta launches a large strike in opposition to Aquaman’s folks, causes climate-related chaos and finally targets Arthur and Mera’s infant. Aquaman wants assist from somebody who is aware of Manta effectively, so the hero busts his nemesis, half-brother and former king Orm (Patrick Wilson), out of jail. Collectively, the most effective frenemies go on a mission that takes them to the legendary misplaced kingdom of Necrus and alongside the best way strive to not kill one another.
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Wan, a grasp of horror when not doing superhero films, tosses in plenty of cool B-movie creatures, nifty underwater sights and a few significantly darkish visuals (together with aqua-zombies!), a lot so one has to surprise how good these “Aquaman” films would have been had he gone all in on the unusual and strange. “Misplaced Kingdom” additionally boasts a wholesome humorousness – the most effective a part of the film is Arthur and Orm doing their very own model of “Step Brothers,” evolving from bickering bros to oddball besties. But that gratifying vibe is constantly undone by an overwhelming earnestness.
Black Manta seems higher than ever, the scars beginning to mount as his tremendous go well with will get greater tech, although Abdul-Mateen’s baddie is extra one-note this time round. Nicole Kidman and Temuera Morrison return as effectively, taking part in Aquaman’s mother Atlanna and pop Tom, and Dolph Lundgren earns an even bigger supporting position as Mera’s dad Nereus. As for the extra unconventional characters, simply as Julie Andrews voiced a sea monster within the first “Aquaman,” Martin Brief is within the new movie as on line casino boss Kingfish. (John Rhys-Davies additionally will get extra to do as crabby dude Brine King.)
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Momoa’s larger-than-life character powers these movies, making what may simply be a vanilla character a brash and daring delight. With bigger adjustments afoot, “Misplaced Kingdom” does appear to be his swan track earlier than somebody new like, say, Warner Bros. favourite Timothée Chalamet takes over the character. (If the studio needs to print cash, they’d gin up a “Justice League” with Robert Pattinson’s Batman and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn partnered with Aqua-Timmy and Taylor Swift as Marvel Girl. With Greta Gerwig directing, natch.)
This tackle Aquaman at the least will get a mic-drop second, fleeting as it could be. Even with “Migration” additionally opening this vacation weekend with a bird-brained household on the free, “Misplaced Kingdom” is the most important lame duck of all of them.
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