Warner Bros. will not be deterred it would seem when it comes to performing in the crowded arena of comic book-inspired films. Disney is the current juggernaut of these types of films, with everyone else scrabbling to follow their blueprint of success. Both, critics and fans alike, have basically conceded that this is a one horse race for the time being and the Marvel Cinematic Universe is way ahead. Considering that the only real positive feature born out of the DC Extended Universe has been Wonder Woman (2017), it should come as little-to-no surprise that every other movie in this franchise will be swimming upstream until that trend is broken. The latest offering hoping to make a splash in the box office is Aquaman, which could also be a pivotal moment for DCEU’s upcoming 2019 film slate. Sink or swim has never been a more appropriate phrase.

Tom Curry (Temuera Morrison) is lighthouse keeper whose life forever changes when he meets the love of his life, Atlanna (Nicole Kidman). From completely different worlds, their love is simply one that cannot be. Arthur Curry is the product of their love and he is the embodiment of the best parts of each of them. At an early age Arthur learns that he is different from the other kids. He finds that he has a connection to the sea and the creatures that live within it. As an adult, Arthur (Jason Momoa) becomes known as Aquaman and assists those in need. Soon however, Aquaman’s two worlds will collide as the battle for ocean supremacy pulls him under. With a new friend of the sea named Mera (Amber Heard), the pair end up on a collision course with a manipulative enemy. As the unwilling heir to Atlantis, Arthur must embrace his lineage if he is to realize his true potential and save the underwater kingdoms.

The timeline of Aquaman may seem a bit confusing at times because it jumps around so much. It basically serves as an origin story as well as a follow up to Justice League (2017) and what happened once Arthur parted ways with the other metahumans in which he stood shoulder to shoulder with as they saved mankind. Patrick Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Dolph Lundgren and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II round out the rest of the main supporting cast.

Here’s what’s good about Aquaman. Jason Momoa is a good choice in the lead role. He wouldn’t have been my first choice originally, but he totally nailed his character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). I was sold then and he’s done nothing to hurt his stock going forward. Momoa brings a rough edge to the character that most probably foresaw as “soft” in the past. It’s not unlike what was done with the James Bond character when Daniel Craig was brought in as that franchise’s face. And from a scenic perspective, the graphics were very colorful and vivid, capturing the very essence of this wondrous underwater world.

Now with the not so good aspects. The “de-aging” of the actors for the 1985 portion of Aquaman was very heavy handed to put it nicely. At times, these characters looked very cartoonish which was distracting. Probably the largest negative with this movie is its runtime. I know that DC is deliberate when it comes to their movies but you feel every second of its 143 minute runtime. They could have probably shaved off a half hour and nothing would have been lost.

Ultimately, I would label Aquaman as a decent popcorn flick, albeit long-winded and excessive. Fans of Jason Momoa will certainly like what they see since he is without a shirt for probably a third of the movie. I mean Harlequin had Fabio and now DC Comics has Momoa. So yeah, this one is all about the eye candy. But guess what? That stuff sells so this will probably have a decent theatrical run. With James Wan directing, I was hoping for a bit more substance. Warner Bros. still hasn’t quite figured out a sustainable winning formula. You can check out the next superhero story in theaters now.