The Flash, a long-anticipated movie bereft with problems and controversy, is an ambitious undertaking which fluctuates wildly from brilliant to pedestrian, succeeding more often than it fails.
The plot, pulled right from the comics, is intriguing. Overcome by sorrow, the Flash (Ezra Miller) ignores the advice of Batman (Ben Affleck) and goes back in time to prevent the murder of his mother, (Maribel Verdu). And as warned, his intervention totally alters reality and endangers all life in the universe–make that universes.
With the aid of other Batmen (one played by Michael Keaton), a younger and more annoying version of the Flash himself, and a brilliant Supergirl (Sasha Calle, the best thing in the movie), Flash tries desperately to put things right. Anyone who read the comics knows how that turns out.
The movie serves as a finale of sorts to Warner Brothers current slate of dark, DC comic book movies, many directed by Zack Snyder. The next foray of films will be shepherded by James Gunn, stolen from Marvel Comics where he directed the wildly successful Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy.
The best things about the Flash film are Batman (Batmen, actually), the newly imagined Supergirl, and a bitter and determined Kryptonian villain, General Zod (Michael Shannon), reprising his role from the Batman Versus Superman movie.
The weakest link in the film is the star himself. Ignoring Ezra Miller’s problematic real life scandals (just google it), the guy seems as uncomfortable in his Flash role here as he did in the Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
His quips are more annoying than funny, looking more like Jimmy Fallon than Flash most of the time. His facial expressions are sometimes flat-out strange and, worst of all, he plays dual versions of himself.
On the other hand, if Warner Brothers does not snap up Michael Keaton to play the older Batman from Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns, they would be insane. Clearly, Keaton still has what it takes to wear the cape and cowl.
Some of the difficulty with the Flash movie is timing. It follows the release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which is also about time travel and alternate universes. Where the Spider-Verse is a brilliant, groundbreaking work that redefines animation, Flash pales in comparison.
Granted, while the Flash movie has been in the works for years and director Andres Muschietti (director of It and the sequel) did his level best to be faithful to comics, the first film to the theaters gets the prize.
The last half-half of Flash saves the movie. The depiction of the alternate universes and the VERY familiar characters within is a special treat that fans will go crazy over.
There is a post credit scene that is silly and will intrigue fans of a certain ocean-dwelling DC superhero, but it’s basically cotton candy.
The Flash opens June 16.
Mike Sangiacomo says
Whoops, Mike here. Actually Zod was in MAN OF STEEL.