Today’s quick review: Justice League vs the Fatal Five. The Justice League, led by Superman (George Newbern), Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg), and Batman (Kevin Conroy), face a threat from the future when the Fatal Five travel back from the 31st century. The League’s only lead is Thomas Kallor (Elyes Gabel), alias Starboy, a time traveler who warns them that the Five’s plan hinges on Jessica Cruz (Diane Guerrero), the newest Green Lantern.
Justice League vs the Fatal Five is an animated superhero movie set in the DC Animated Universe. The movie revists the version of the Justice League from the early 2000s TV show, who are now training a new generation of superheroes. The story showcases the Fatal Five, the 31st-century foes of the Legion of Super-Heroes, who have traveled back in time to free their leader from her prison. Well-balanced execution makes the movie an enjoyable pick.
Justice League vs the Fatal Five strikes a healthy balance between high-stakes superhero action and smaller, more personal stories. The personal side of the film centers on Thomas Kallor, whose trip to the past has left him mentally unstable, and Jessica Cruz, a young hero struggling to overcome her fears. Their stories are told tactfully and worked into the main plot in organic ways, giving the film just enough of an emotional core to ground it.
Beyond the arcs of these two characters, Justice League vs the Fatal Five is standard superhero fare. The plot is a straightforward conflict between powerful heroes and villains. The action scenes aren’t the sharpest the genre has to offer, but the large cast of heroes gives them plenty of variety, with enough action to give each hero a chance to shine. The animation style is simple, clean, and consistent, eschewing flash for substance.
Give Justice League vs the Fatal Five a shot if you’re a fan of the superhero genre in general, and especially if you’re a fan of the DC Animated Universe. Justice League vs the Fatal Five is a well-rounded pick that has a little bit of everything superhero fans are looking for. Skip it if you’re looking for a film that goes all-in on one or two aspects of the genre, or if you’re not a fan of it period.
For a DC superhero adventure in a similar vein, try Justice League vs. Teen Titans, Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, or Justice League: War. For a pared-down superhero movie with similar plot elements, try Superman: Unbound.
6.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for basic but cleanly executed superhero action.