Review: The Flash

The Flash (2023)
PG-13 ‧ Action/Adventure/Comedy ‧ 2 Hours 35 Minutes

Written by Christina Hodson

Directed by Andrés Muschietti

THE CAST

Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / The Flash
Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El / Supergirl
Michael Shannon as General Zod
Ron Livingston as Henry Allen
Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen: Barry’s mother who was murdered in his youth.
Kiersey Clemons as Iris West
Antje Traue as Faora-Ul
Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman

THE STORY

(In their own words).Worlds collide when the Flash uses his superpowers to travel back in time to change the events of the past. However, when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, he becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation. With no other superheroes to turn to, the Flash looks to coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian — albeit not the one he’s looking for.

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film

The Story – I really enjoyed this story because it managed to tell an origin story without lingering on that too much. The best origin stories focus on WHY they do what they do instead of drowning us on HOW they got these magic powers. It touches on Flash’s motivation for justice and covers how he got them, but still focuses on this story which takes place much later. I also am a big fan of how they dealt with the multiverse in this story and how it affects things.

Ezra Miller’s Performance – Look, I didn’t want to like them in this. I get the problems with keeping Ezra in this role, and they should probably be recast. That said, they are outstanding in the part, playing dual Barry Allens. They portray such clearly different versions of the same person so incredibly well with minor changes to the delivery and presentation that you really get the sense that this is the same person…but not.

The Multiverse Presentation – In films like this, I always wonder how they will get across the point of what Barry Allen sees in the multiverse and how he travels back in time. I believe they found a fantastic way of showing how he moves through time and learns about his options. It was fun and exciting and made things very clear to me.

The Cameos & Callbacks – This has some fantastic expected and unexpected cameos. It’s a real treat for DC fans. Now, I have read complaints that this movie was just fan service for the cameos and callbacks to other films, and I feel like that is completely missing the point and dismissing some excellent storytelling. The cameos and callbacks are the icing on the cake. They work because the film does. And honestly, after all the subpar DC films we’ve had in the past, the fans deserve a little bit of fan service.

The Humor – I really loved that the film’s humor was its own. Many of the Marvel movies have gotten a bit formulaic with the way they use humor, to the point that you can see it coming. It’s a Marvel brand of humor. The humor in this film is its own, and it feels unique; it feels internalized for the mechanics of that world. It doesn’t feel like the Shazam style of humor, and that makes it feel special.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

The Time Stuff – Yes, I get it; the Flash sometimes does things that don’t make sense; he’ll be in the midst of talking to someone, then super-speeds to Paris, come back with a croissant before the person is done turning around. That doesn’t happen in this story exactly, but it’s the kind of thing he does in this story and in the television show and the comics. It doesn’t make sense because he probably had to at least go into regular time to buy the croissant unless he stole it. I get that. It’s kind of annoying. But that’s just what this character does. You have to let it go if you are going to enjoy ANYTHING about The Flash. And I do agree, and I wish they would stop doing this kind of thing.

THE COMMENTS

I really feel like this is the best DC film we’ve seen yet. There is so much I like about the film. The story, the humor, the direction, the acting, and the tone… hit it perfectly for me. Admittedly Flash is one of my longest-running loves of superheroes. So I admit I might be biased, but the audience I was with clearly agreed with me.

THE LESSON

The only way to move forward is to let go of the past.

IS IT REWATCHABLE
YES.
THE FINAL WORD

The Flash may be the best DC Film to come out. It’s creative, funny, and lays out a complex story in a simple way. It tells an origin story without dragging itself into feeling like it has to explain everything by focusing on the WHY Barry Allen takes on his role as the Flash rather than the how. The film’s story primarily works because of an impeccable performance by the problematic Ezra Miller. While I really appreciate the nuanced and stellar performance in the movie, I would be glad to see it recast so we can explore more of the Flash universe. The film is topped off by some stellar cameos that, yes, are full of DC fan service. However, DC fans deserve this after so many years of disappointment.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

The Flash gets a Love It.

THE TRAILER