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Aquaman reviews round-up: Critics brand DC film 'wannabe Thor' living in Marvel's shadow

Warner Bros has finally unveiled its standalone Aquaman film, directed by James Wan, after what seems like an eternity of promotion.

Having made his debut in 2016 film Batman v Superman, the character – real name Arthur Curry – is only just receiving the solo treatment in a spectacle starring original Game of Thrones actor Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Nicole Kidman and, in what was originally a secret role, Julie Andrews.

Compared with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the majority of films released as part of the DC Extended Universe have had a fairly rough ride with the critics: Batman v Superman was maligned, as were mash-ups Suicide Squad – which starred Jared Leto as Joker – and Justice League.

The jewel in its crown thus far has been Wonder Woman, the Gal Gadot-starring period adventure which made Patty Jenkins the most successful female director of all time. A sequel will follow in 2019.

But what’s the verdict on Aquaman? If the first reactions were anything to go by, it seemed the fish king could sit alongside Wonder Woman as a DCEU success story - however, the consensus among professional critics has been far more lukewarm, with IndieWire branding the character a "wannabe Thor."

Below is a roundup of reviews now the embargo has dropped.

The Independent

“It is rousing fare, made with enough conviction for it to get away with its moments of extreme kitsch silliness.”

The Telegraph

"A film you sense would have worked best as a flashy, froth-tossed romp feels lumpily overburdened, and pulled in all directions by vying currents."

Digital Spy

Aquaman is a flawed but thoroughly entertaining adventure movie and certainly one of the strongest instalments so far in the inconsistent Worlds of DC franchise.”

The Guardian

“This is a let-down: a laborious, slow-moving and dripping wet film, barnacle-encrusted with solemnity and with a ripply-underwater production design that looks like a giant version of the kitschy items that you put in fish-tanks.”

Vulture

Aquaman's as formulaic, excessively thrashy, and mommy-obsessed as any other entry in the DCEU, but its visual imagination is genuinely exciting and transportive, and dare I say, fun.”

The Hollywood Reporter

“The majority of the time the action set pieces seem quite arbitrary... This saddles the overlong film with a ponderous, grinding feel, one driven by a sense of obligation more than the glee of inspiration.”

IndieWire

"Hobbled by a messy screenplay, paper-thin characters, and a hodgepodge of unimaginative showdowns stretched across bloated running time, Aquaman is the latest example of a franchise that keeps chasing its competitor’s tail."

Aquaman is released in cinemas on 14 December