Today’s quick review: Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman – Rage of Atlantis. After an embarrassing mission with the Justice League, Aquaman (Dee Bradley Baker) makes matters worse by handing over the throne of Atlantis to his treacherous half-brother Oceanmaster (Trevor Devall). Now Aquaman must redeem himself by helping the Justice League defeat Oceanmaster and his new ally Atrocitus (Jonathan Adams), the leader of the rage-fueled Red Lanterns.
Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman – Rage of Atlantis is an animated family superhero comedy set in a Lego version of the DC Universe. Rage of Atlantis mashes up two distinct corners of the DC Universe: Atlantis and the Green Lantern Corps. The team-up between Oceanmaster and Atrocitus gives the movie an excuse to work in plenty of DC concepts and characters, but it also stuffs it to bursting. The result is a messy watch that lacks polish.
The personal side of the movie revolves around Aquaman’s attempts to prove that he’s a useful member of the Justice League. This incarnation of Aquaman is a bumbling joke. He works well enough as a kids’ movie protagonist, but the movie leans too heavily on the character’s spotty reputation. Another subplot follows the same pattern: rookie Green Lantern Jessica Cruz (Cristinia Milizia) tries to overcome her stage fright and become an effective hero.
As far as humor goes, Rage of Atlantis is only a partial success. The comedy follows the Lego formula: cheap, kid-friendly jokes with a couple of rewarding details for DC fans. But the movie tries to do too much and doesn’t focus on any one thing, resulting in half-baked writing, a meandering plot, and jokes that aren’t supported by the scenes around them. There are some laughs to be had, but the movie misses as often as it hits.
Fans of the superhero genre, and of DC in particular, may want to give Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Aquaman – Rage of Atlantis a shot. Its unconstrained premise lets it show off a broader slice of the DC Universe than most adaptations, and it has the self-aware humor and bouncy tone of most Lego adventures. But the combination of childish humor and mediocre writing mean that the film won’t have anything to offer for most fans.
For a live-action, big-budget version of Aquaman, try the movie Aquaman. For another animated take on the character, try Justice League: The Throne of Atlantis. For a more focused entry into the series with better execution, try Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: The Flash.
5.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for humor that doesn’t quite hit the mark.