A Middle-of-the-Road League

Rating: 5/10 (18 March 2018)

After DC finally had a winner in 'Wonder Woman', there were hopes 'Justice League' would continue the momentum.
It's doesn't.
While JL isn't as awful as 'Suicide Squad' and not as messy as 'Batman v Superman' (or messy enough to need a director's cut to fill the plot holes) it still feels rushed and ill-formed, a legacy of DC's impatience in building their Extended Universe.
The plot is basic: Steppenwolf needs to unite three Mother Boxes (one in Atlantis, once in Themiscyria and one on Earth) so he can take over the world or something. It feels like it's been done a million times and doesn't create a lot of tension.
The problem with 'Justice League' is cramming together six heroes (including Superman's eventual return) in a two-hour movie. Yes, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman are established, but Cyborg, Flash and Aquaman are properly introduced in the DCEU through 'Justice League'. Their backstories are minimal before they're thrown in the action; though Aquaman gets a solo film later this year, it seems a bit late.
The handover from Zack Snyder to Joss Whedon shows, with a lot more humour in 'Justice League.' The comic relief work lands on the Flash, who plays the "I'm just a kid and I don't really have control of my powers yet, but this is so cool" shtick. The banter between Alfred and Batman/Bruce Wayne is again a standout, including a callback to 'Batman Returns.'
Superman's returns feels rushed, brought back out of necessity and his CGI-ed non-moustache (a scheduling conflict meant Henry Cavill couldn't shave his moustache) is very distracting. It's not a patch on the Return of Superman graphic novel, with four Supermen emerging before the real Superman's triumphant return.
It's a shame this originally planned two-parter didn't happen, as the first film could've been used to establish the characters and set the stakes for part two. Rumours that the sequel has been delayed isn't a good sign for the DCEU.
For a film meant to be DCs answer to the 'Avengers', 'Justice League' is disappointing.