Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom is waterlogged with a disjointed story and more than a few shoddy visuals. To say it will leave fans of the first instalment disappointment is an understatement. The problem is that it’s all very banal, this despite trying to do and say a lot (in a short amount of time, mind you). Are there splashes of fun? Sure, there are. It can get pretty silly at times too – bordering on overly cartoonish. The movie also veers into more serious action territory on occasion, delivering a couple of director James Wan’s signature “bad ass” moments in the process. Unfortunately, the movie flip flops in tone more than a fish fresh out of water. But here’s the thing, Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson make for a ton of fun. Momoa alone is a larger-than-life presence who you just can’t help but be drawn to. Trust me, his charisma is a true driving force here – one the film is very lucky to have. When teamed with Patrick, the movie is at its most enjoyable. It’s too bad then that every other character, including our villain, are disappointingly underdeveloped (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II deserved so much better as Black Manta). And maybe it was the abysmal dialogue the actors were asked to recite, but everyone feels as if they are just going through the motions, as if it’s some kind of run-through. In fact, the entire film feels like it’s a “rough draft.” The first chunk alone feels like it’s from a different movie altogether. As for the underwater spectacle that is Aquaman’s home, Atlantis, it’s one again (mostly) awe inspiring. There’s a magic to the world that’s been created, and for the most part, it’s pleasing to the eyeballs. Not all the special effects impress however, as some character CGI renders are laugh worthy bad. So, if you were looking for Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom to send the DCEU off with a splash (before the forthcoming reboot), you’ll be sad to hear that it’s no more than a light drizzle.