The Flash

The writing is now well and truly on the wall for DC / James Gunn's reworking of the franchise which is set to drop everything that came before since Man of Steel in 2013 and reboot all the characters and stories but there are still just a few more films left in the pipeline for a theatrical release. It's certainly not ideal for the cast and crew who must keep a brave face when it comes to promoting these films and while the stories may essentially not reach their full conclusion, that doesn't mean they still can't surprise and make-up for what has been a rocky road. 

Speaking of rocky roads, Ezra Miller has certainly not made things easy for DC when it has come to the 2023 release of The Flash and some wondered if this film would see the light of day following the drama with the canned Batgirl film. However, despite it all, The Flash hit cinemas hoping to deliver a fun and exciting experience returning a couple of familiar DC faces while even bringing a few others who many thought would never return to their caped crusader roles. Does it deliver? Well, nostalgia is a powerful thing but I think this just about hits the mark.

The story follows Barry Alan/The Flash trying to prove his father never murdered his mother and all hope seems lost for him prompting the idea to, essentially do a Superman, and travel so fast that he might go back in time in order to save her. However, things go awry and he finds himself back in 2013 before Zod's invasion while alongside his younger, more insufferable self. Yes, it's another multiverse film! Cue an overly spoiled return of Michael Keaton's Batman and Sasha Calle's first appearance as Supergirl while Barry tries to save Metropolis and his mother. 

Directed by Andy Muschietti, The Flash runs at 144 minutes and offers a surprisingly great performance from Miller in two very different roles which both play to his strengths in drama and comedy. The film is a bombastic experience with lots of CGI and action sequences that sometimes hit while others miss, lacking a certain substance that special effects often can't compete with when it comes to practical effects, but Muschietti and Miller really do stick the landing when it comes to the emotional core of the film. Calle was also a surprise standout in a smaller role but I look forward to seeing where DC will go with her character in the future. 

I can't overlook some parts do still lull as lot of exposition is thrown our way, Michael Shannon seems to be on autopilot in his return as Zod and the conclusion comes around a little too quickly when I felt more was left on the table but I still had a fun time watching Miller, Keaton and Calle onscreen. Whereas Black Adam was quite forgettable, The Flash moves just fast enough to make for an enjoyable experience that will entertain most viewers even if the franchise is now but just a few films away from the reset button.