THE FLASH (2023 film) movie review

THE FLASH is directed by Andy Muschietti. The film stars Ezra Miller, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdu, Kiersey Clemons, Antje Traue, Ben Affleck, Jeremy Irons, and Michael Keaton.

Following the defeat of Steppenwolf when they first united as the Justice League, Earth’s heroes continue to save lives and fight villains. Distraught over the death of his mother and false imprisonment of his father for the murder, Barry “The Flash” Allen uses his super speed to travel back in time and to prevent the murder, against the warnings of Bruce Wayne. Allen runs into his previous self and quickly finds himself in an alternate future where there are no metahumans to protect the world. And to make things even worse, the evil Kryptonian warlord General Zod is on Earth, prepared to declare war on the human race to reclaim the world in the name of Krypton. Will the two Flashes stand a chance against this deadly adversary, and will there be anyone who can help them win the fight?

THE FLASH marks the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. The DCEU of films is being relaunched in favor of a new DCU, with this being the final film of the latter, essentially rebooting the universe (though exactly how hard or soft a reboot this is remains to be seen). Fans wondered if they’d see the movie get released on account of star Ezra Miller’s real-world drama and conflicts (I won’t get into that here; this is a review for the film only), but the film is here at last. In a world where superhero movies have become a dime a dozen and there are now as many hits as there are misses, THE FLASH is a breath of fresh air. Equal parts hilarious, heartwarming, and action-packed, it’s one of the best superhero movies of recent memory.

In the JUSTICE LEAGUE film, Ezra Miller’s take on The Flash was one of my favorite characters thanks to his sense of humor combined with a dramatic backstory. Here, we finally get to see Barry Allen take center stage in a multiversal epic of his own, with the picture essentially becoming DC’s equivalent of SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME. The film is over the top in all the best of ways, thrusting young Mr. Allen into an action-packed dramatic adventure that doesn’t skimp on the comedy, while at the same time, not finding those elements feeling out of place either. I’ve long waited for a live-action film that finally lets Ezra Miller’s take on The Flash be the star. And this fan and critic is even happier to report that he rises to the occasion and then some.

Director Andy Muschietti, who’d previously helmed the recent film adaptations of Stephen King’s IT, proves to be the perfect man to run the show. And while the pacing does lag a bit in some places, particularly in the first hour or so, once the movie gets going, it’s an all-out thrill ride. The running time of 2 ½ hours may sound excessive, but it’s rarely boring or of a questionable nature. I can safely say, without reservations, that this is the most fun I’ve had at the movies in a long time. The loud cheers and applause of the audience I saw the film with say it all. DC Comics may finally have the big screen hit on their hands they’ve been looking for.

The supporting cast is just as impressive, featuring some interesting DC Multiverse appearances. I may try to be taken seriously as a critic, but I’d be lying if I said seeing Michael Keaton put on the cape and cowl and play Batman one more time didn’t have me giddy and excited. 30 years after last playing the role, that guy’s lost nothing. Seeing an older slightly more distraught version of the character thrown back into the fray is particularly exciting, and I’m happy to say his performance and appearance in the film is definitely more than just a gimmick. We even get a new take on Supergirl who’s exciting in her own right, even if she is somewhat overshadowed by Keaton’s Batman. There are plenty of multiversal surprises throughout the film, particularly in the picture’s latter moments, but I’m not spoiling those here. Go see it for yourself. I guarantee they’ll make you laugh pretty hard at least twice.

It’s an exciting thrill ride that never feels quite as long as it is. If there’s one minor weakness of the film, it’s that Michael Shannon’s General Zod never gets enough to do. All superhero movies are build-ups to big explosive action-packed third-act battles, and this movie certainly delivers in that category, with a few interesting twists. Unfortunately, it seems like Zod’s purpose in the film, despite a solid performance from Shannon, is just to serve as a villain for that sequence and not much else. The movie could’ve used a more interesting villain, and maybe not one associated primarily with Superman. Fortunately, my criticisms of the final product are pretty limited.

THE FLASH lives up to the hype and then some. It may not quite be perfect, but it’s still the best superhero movie I’ve seen in quite some time, and that’s saying a lot in a world still continually oversaturated with them. Regardless of what kind of movie fan you are or what you want from your cinema experiences, THE FLASH comes highly recommended!