The Flash

I have a high bar for The Flash because of...well...The Flash, the CW TV show. Not all 9 seasons of it, mind you. I stopped watching after a certain point where it became a bit repetitive and the overarching narrative seemed like an afterthought. However, the first season of The Flash is an all timer. Sure, the effects could be better, but the story is filled to the brim with mystery, awesome time-travel elements, and big surprises/twists. It's genuinely fantastic and in comparison, The Flash - the movie, has always seemed like a bit of a s**t show. 

As the DCEU was crumbling after the likes of some of its worst films, The Flash, couldn't seem to keep a director to save its life as it went through nearly as many of those as it did years in development hell (the film was originally supposed to come out in 2018!). More recently, you have to throw on the heaping pile of allegations (and outright guilty aspects) of Ezra Miller's personal life and it practically feels like Warner Brothers wants to be done with this DCEU all together. In a way, they're getting their wish with the introduction of James Gunn, but I digress. 

The Flash movie is fun and entertaining. That's it. I enjoyed it, but I don't think it has much staying power, partly because of how these films don't really mean anything anymore, and partly because of its quality. In many ways, it reminded me of its MCU multiverse-brethren, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness because it was a solid one-time view, but it'll be a while before I seek it out a second time. In The Flash, Barry goes back to save his mother from dying and his father from ending up in jail. It's a familiar story if you know the character and it hits the right emotional beats, thanks largely to an apt original score and Ezra Miller's performance. Similarly, the jokes really seem to land in this, more often than not, which was a pleasant surprise. I've always liked Miller in this role (their personal lives obviously not included) and the comedic chops they display are impressive, often coming as quick as the speedster himself. This element is a pretty significant distinguishment from the DC's normal "heavy brooding", even if it has lightened itself up in recent engagements. 

The big selling point here is Michael Keaton returning as Batman and I have to say, while awesome, it didn't have the wow element I was expecting. He slides back into the cowl easily, but probably because I don't think of him as "my" Batman (that honor would go to Bale, for at least right now) I was almost more excited for the fans, than the actual event itself. Luckily, the action we're presented with from all 3 heroes is well executed and features [mostly] fantastic special effects. Batman and Supergirl are brutal in their own ways, while Barry's ability to essentially freeze time leads to some jaw droppingly funny (the opening) and awesome (the finale) sequences. 

A lot will be made about the ending and while I'm normally a fan of cameos and all these awesome fan moments, in The Flash, there was something about them that felt hollow. Whether it's because the DCEU is ending or because they don't feel well earned, I'm not sure, but there also weren't any that got more than an "oh cool!" from me and I am slightly disgruntled by a few easy ones that are missing. 

Despite that, The Flash is some of the better DC fare, even if that doesn't matter a whole bunch anymore, and I had a blast with it for one time. If you're passionate about not supporting Ezra Miller - and I can't say I blame you - you'll live missing out on this.

Rapid Rath's Review Score | 7.5/10