Superhero movies have had a bit of a Renaissance in the past decade. Marvel has been pumping out hit after hit with movies like Iron Man, Ant-Man and Deadpool. At this point, it seems like Marvel’s main canon is incapable of making a bad movie. But DC, their age-old competitor, has had a rockier time in the box office. This is highlighted by their most recent release Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

After starting with the relatively successful Batman Begins, and the absolutely sensational The Dark Knight, DC’s movie successes have slowed down, with The Dark Knight Rises and Man of Steel receiving lukewarm reviews. The most recent addition to DC’s canon is a combination of these two and is directed by the same man who engineered Man of Steel in all of its mediocrity. That means that going into this film, our expectations weren’t terribly high.

Luckily, those expectations were exceeded, but only by a little bit. The same problems that plagued Man return in force, including the overly gritty themes and uncompelling story. In addition to that, the movie suffers from its unfocused plot and overdone effects.

What really pulls the movie down is its uncompromising desire to be “epic.” Batman v. Superman is supposed to be the crown jewel of DC comics; it’s the moment when their two biggest stars go head to head. But in the process of creating the cinematic set pieces required to back such an awe-inspiring battle, the movie loses itself, its characters, its plot and its audience.

Part of this attempted “epicness” is the lack of personality in the main characters. Both Batman and Superman are gritty and lifeless. The personalities in the movies were like the changes to Superman’s outfit: what was bright, colorful and fun to look at in the comics became dark, brooding and drab.

The movie’s reserved tone harshly clashes with the usual fun of colorful heroes seen in the comics. All of the excitement in a normal superhero movie is nullified by the film’s boring dialogue, which feebly attempts to flesh out a realistic and serious conflict. A dark tone in a superhero movie isn’t necessarily a bad thing – The Dark Knight made this theme work thanks to its compelling story and interesting villain – but this movie lacks in both of those departments.

This isn’t to say the movie never shines. Some of the action sequences are fast-paced, visceral and appropriately grandiose. You’ll find yourself gripping your seat and wincing at every hit. Moreover, the characters’ designs and acting were effective in conveying a more serious tone. Doubts in Ben Affleck’s Batman have been silenced as well: his portrayal of the character is almost perfect.

If this movie’s writing and directing had been better, it could have been a slam-dunk, but it is plagued by its jumbled story and overly dark themes. For a fan of superhero movies, this film will satiate your need for action until the next one. However, missing out on this one won’t be much of a loss.