One thing’s for sure about James Wan’s “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”, this one is for the kiddies. Not that any comic book movie is Shakespeare, but David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick’s screenplay (from a story by Thomas Pa’a Sibbett, Jason Momoa, and Wan) is beyond simplistic. There are many lines of dialogue where one can only imagine the actors were counting their big paychecks to help get them through. While the film isn’t a total wash, this is really pedestrian stuff.

The first Aquaman movie was a (sort of) fun-enough time waster. The film was full of color and life and had a sense of humor, unlike most DC fare that are always dark and somber. Of course, the film’s monumental success meant there would be a sequel. So here we are, saddled with another FX-heavy comic book film that assaults the eyes and ears of the audience, while tricking them into believing they are experiencing something different. A CGI-sleight of hand, if you will.

For Aquaman’s second (and final) solo outing, Wan returns as director, with most of the cast from the first film reprising their roles. Momoa is a fun actor to watch, but his work as the underwater superhero is more like a surfer “brah” having a good time on Party Beach. The actor is all smiles and wisecracks; a good thing, but to the point where the actor is just playing himself.

Arthur “Aquaman” Curry is once again out to save Atlantis and the world entire. This time the villain is Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), who seeks revenge after our titular hero caused the death of his father back in the first film. Manta wields the Black Trident, a weapon that will help awaken a bad king who has been cursed (frozen) in his “lost kingdom” deep under the ocean. That’s about all the dreaded trident does, rendering its existence fairly boring, in the scheme of things.

Aquaman rescues his former King of Atlantis half-brother (Patrick Wilson) from prison. The two have an adversarial relationship, but team up to bring down Black Manta.

As far as the screenplay goes, that’s it and that’s that. “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is nothing more. The paper-thin plot is laid out and the film zips along, throwing in CGI imagery (most of which is pretty good) and silly wisecracks to keep audiences interested. Wan and company haven’t crafted a bad film, but beyond Momoa’s infectiously giddy performance and the somewhat creative world-building, there isn’t any real fun to be had. There is always something happening and the film never seems to take a breath, but the action is nothing new and the thrills aren’t that thrilling.

The movie finds some merit in its creation of the undersea kingdoms. Their designs (while not holding a candle to the incredible worlds of James Cameron’s “Avatar” films) are imaginative. The movie doesn’t take itself seriously and the cartoonish backdrops work well for the filmmakers, as everything is full of color and movement.