Ezra Miller saves the Snyderverse in a stunning superhero adaptation that gloriously lives up to the hype. The Flash is the DC film that fans have been aching to see. It incorporates storylines from the Flashpoint comic series, Man of Steel, and Justice League into a fantastic multiverse thriller with epic reveals. Barry Allen’s (Miller) time altering abilities leads to a drastic decision with disastrous consequences. He finds unexpected allies and powerful enemies in a desperate effort to correct his catastrophic mistake.
Barry Allen, the fastest man alive, is late to work. But he’s dangerously low on calories and needs sustenance. A quick stop at the local coffee shop gets a dire interruption. The Flash is needed immediately to help a crisis situation in Gotham City. He’ll have to stop arguing with the annoying cashier and race to the scene. Yellow lightning engulfs him as time stands still for everyone else. He crosses hundreds of miles in seconds for a spectacular rescue.
Ezra Miller as Barry Allen
Barry’s predictably chewed out for continual tardiness. He should have been long promoted at the Central City police forensics lab. Why was he the only Justice League member available? A sullen Barry gets a surprising visitor. He hasn’t seen Iris West (Kiersey Clemons) since college. She has a promising career as a journalist but came as a concerned friend.
Iris wonders how Barry will cope with his father’s parole hearing tomorrow. Henry Allen (Ron Livingston) was wrongly convicted of murdering Barry’s beloved mother (Maribel Verdú). Barry stands in front of his childhood home in abject grief. He remembers the horrifying events of that day. His mother deserved to live. Manipulating the Speed Force to change the past was strictly forbidden. Barry’s sorrow overcomes reason. How much damage could he could actually do?
The Flash relies on constant CGI effects to drive the narrative. Barry interacting with his younger self in the alternate timeline looks pretty good. The Flash spinning back time in a Speed Force bubble isn’t nearly as genuine. Barry’s perception requires a unique visualization intrinsic to his powers. Realism varies greatly depending on the scene. Audiences won’t mind, though, as spectacular action abounds throughout the film. Willing suspension of disbelief works mightily in the film’s favor.
Batman Returns
Michael Keaton’s return as Batman will kick your a** and break a foot doing it. The Caped Crusader soaring in his 1989 costume and vehicles to Danny Elfman’s classic theme is stupefyingly awesome. Keaton plays the character as older and wiser but just as formidable. The Justice League depends on Batman for leadership, cunning, and absolute fearlessness. But he’s also a friend and mentor that brings out the best in Barry.
Director Andy Muschietti (Mama, It) gets top marks for casting Sasha Calle as Supergirl. She’s radically different from previous portrayals. Calle’s tough as nails with a dark view of the human race. Barry must earn her trust as their heavy-hitter. Calle holds her own against Michael Shannon’s fearsome General Zod redux in a gritty feature film debut.
Ezra Miller has gotten a lot of bad press about his erratic behavior. His personal life certainly didn’t affect a remarkable performance. The Flash stands magnificently on his shoulders. Barry Allen is a complex character on two fronts. The death of his mother as a child left him socially awkward and introverted. The alternate Barry grew up with both parents and flourished. He’s funny and outgoing but doesn’t have a clue about heroism or sacrifice. Miller is both the teacher and student on a heartbreaking journey.
A Dynamite Ending
The Flash has a dynamite ending. The internet is rife with spoilers, and you’d do yourself a disservice by reading them. Going in unspoiled, The Flash‘s ending is simply jaw-dropping. Mind-blowing is an understatement. Stick around after the credits.
The Flash is a production of DC Studios, Double Dream, and The Disco Factory. It will have a theatrical release on June 16th from Warner Bros.