I remember paying close notice to VAR at 2018 and I don't remember it exhilarating, but I guess you're right when you say "at times". Denmark got a wrong handball against them, France got an offside decision wrong where FIFA denied showing it in replay - that's not good transparency. And it was an overall theme of not showing replays of offsides, so one could notice or not whether VAR was right.
But at times VAR got something more right than without VAR for some national teams, which probably made VAR look good for some that mostly watched their own national team and not every game. I vaguely remember a dubious call about Neymar that wasn't given by VAR too, just because it was Neymar and he had his antics. Also I remember something in an important Belgium game (I think?) where a penalty was given where the ball was already on the way out for a goalkick - that one was a bit controversial. I think they allowed for more physical play at that WC too, which at least were better than VAR in it's current form.