Maybe Jason Momoa and director James Wan have been spending too much time on the set of Fast and Furious, or maybe just being around Vin Diesel saturates your brain with one idea, because the central theme in DC Studios’ latest film, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, is family. Although the word family isn’t said a trillion times in the film, it is solidified throughout the film with the reminder that Aquaman is not only King of Atlantis but a father, a son, and a big brother.
Jokes aside, I appreciated the direction the writers went with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. It had its sweet and heartfelt moments, while still being a fun, action-packed, lively, superhero film.
The film picks up as a direct sequel to Aquaman (2018). It is best to watch the first film for a refresher before watching this one. The film’s director and co-writer, James Wan, said it’s great to watch them both back to back. Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is on a mission of vengeance. He wants to kill Arthur and all he holds dear as payback for his father’s death. While searching for a way to power his suit, Black Manta finds the Black Trident, a dark relic powered by an evil ancient force.
Between brief conversations on ocean preservation and global warming, Arthur must work with his little brother, Orm, to protect the kingdom and stop Black Manta from destroying the planet. Along with Momoa and Abdul-Mateen II, also returning is Patrick Willson as Orm, Nicole Kidman as Atlanna, Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry, Dolph Lundgren as King Nereus, and Amber Heard as Mera. New to the action (apart from the post-credit scene in Aquaman) is Randall Park, along with Martin Short, Jani Zhao, and Indya Moore.
One of the fun things about this film is its action sequences. The choreography, the stunts, and the pacing all work really well together in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The jungle scenes are incredible and probably my favorite parts in this film. Any time Yahya Abdul-Mateen II uses the black trident is a notable experience. The final epic battle with trident versus trident is intense and captivating. The fighting choreo steps it up a notch compared to Aquaman (2018). Seeing these moments in IMAX 3D really makes it pop. It is also cool to see more of Atlantis. But it did leave me wondering where the human-like people hung out because all we saw were quirky CGI fish characters.
Speaking of baddie Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, he kills it as Black Manta. The ruthlessness, the ferociousness, the raw intensity all add up to a performance where he shows up and shows out. His upgraded suit is necessary for plot and substance. There was some clunkiness in the first film, but the kinks have been worked out in time for the sequel. He looks amazing, but his dialogue is lacking. The pain of losing his father and his brooding presence is felt, and he continues the villain role nicely.
Patrick Wilson is honestly one of my favorite actors to watch. He has an acting quality that really makes those around him step up their game, which is why I think the brotherhood/family storyline worked. Orm had the biggest character development of all the characters in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. His character arc had more appeal in this sequel, even more so than Aquaman himself. While Momoa can deliver the comedy and corny lines, Wilson brings a sincerity and balance to the cast. He isn’t over the top or super dramatic but offers a well-deserved lesson in redemption.
The whole family theme is really thrown in our faces — not sure if the rewrites and reshoots had a lot to do with it, but the amount of Guinness and Aquaman dad montages seem unnecessary. Just when it feels like he was a single parent, a random shot of Mera (Heard) will occur. The Arthur and kid scenes seem like a different film and slightly clumsy. I would have respected it more if he were a single dad at that point trying to balance family, relationships, and ruling a kingdom.
Other themes that didn’t hit as well were those centered on the Earth’s resources and the land and sea balance. What could have been a real Happy Feet moment ended up being a lackluster conversation in a film tiptoeing around the original reason Arthur took up the role as king in the first place: to keep Atlantis from attacking the surface.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is slightly predictable, but still entertaining. The theme of family sits at the center of the film with focus on the father-son and brother relationships. It’s nice to see superheroes in that “real life” light, but unfortunately, the daddy-and-me moments lack the heart and impact that the sibling bonding moments hold. The entire film is a little more grownup, but still uneven. Momoa has had a good run as Aquaman in the DC franchise, and I will be sad to see him go if this is indeed the last time he will don the gold and green.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is in theaters Friday, December 22, 2023.
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