In Aquaman the somewhat popular DC comicbook character makes his second appearance in a film universe that may or may not have anything to do with the stories that were once told in Justice League and Batman V Superman.

Those were far graver – and grayer – times; the stories were deliberately on edge, and yet for some reasons, were also morally bankrupt despite forced inclusion of emotionally weighty consequences.

Despite what is a more ‘Marvel-like’ tone, Aquaman also felt forced. It was funny in bits and pieces, and very very expensive – especially when the characters are in sea – but for all its fancy visual effects, it just wasn’t engaging enough.

The story follows Arthur Curry (Jason Mamoa) after he was introduced in Justice League, and his trials to get a fabled trident that will make him the ruler of Atlantis – the fabled kingdom where his half-mother (Nicole Kidman) came from.

His arch enemies in the movie is Black Manta (Abdul Mateen Yahya II) – a sea-faring terrorist, and his half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson). The story also develops his love-life with the briefly seen romantic-interest Mera (Amber Heard) from Justice League.

Action sequences are plenty, and truth be told they look grand, and also at times very very fake. Yet, one cannot fault the production, because sometimes it really takes many things into account. For instance, the way people hair flows under the sea, felt natural, as did their floating bodies.

James Wan, one of the writers and the director of the movie, helms with a tongue-in-cheek attitude, pushing a geeky, happy-go-lucky ambiance that sides more with Joss Whedon’s filmmaking in Justice League than Zack Snyder’s in Man of Steel and Batman v Superman.

Aquaman is forgettably fun, and far from fantastic.