Proving to be the little league of superhero franchises

Rating: 4/10 (29 May 2018)

After three film entries in the DC Comics universe that found varying degrees of success, Warner Bros. hit a snag with 2017's 'Justice League.' Directed by Zack Snyder, the film brought together the new kids on the block of superheroes in Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Jason Fisher) and everyone's favorite man of steel (Henry Cavill).
While on paper, this all-star cast gives off an 'Avengers' vibe, it's a far cry from that franchise. For one, the actors completely lack chemistry. Everything seems forced, especially the few comedic moments that are thrown into the mix. Sure, 'Justice' is supposed to be more serious in nature than anything in the Marvel universe, but it's possible to strike a balance without coming off so wooden. Even Gadot's Wonder Woman does not radiate the same sense of confidence as she did in her titular role last year.
Aside from the poorer than usual acting, the story is nothing special - the heroes band together to stop the threat posed by New God member Steppenwolf as he tries to collect three powerful boxes that could destroy Earth. This is standard fare for any superhero entry, so it doesn't really count against 'Justice,' nor does it do it any favors. So what does this leave us? Not much, unfortunately. Everything here is pretty much forgettable.
It's possible that DC films can make a comeback, as 'Wonder Woman,' 'Suicide Squad' and 'Man of Steel' all seemed to click with audiences. Hopefully 'Aquaman' can beat the odds in December, otherwise many will blame 'Justice League' for casting a shadow on future releases.