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| Images courtesy of WB |
The current slate of DC films comes to a close with the long awaited and oft delayed iteration of The Flash. After lingering for years in creative hell due to production issues, a problematic main player, and the global pandemic, Barry Allen's solo movie is finally going to hit theaters and will likely be a huge financial hit for Warner Bros. and the former DC film universe. But big money (of course) does not equal quality film making.
The resulting final product is a troubled one, filled with atrocious looking CGI, uncomfortably forced humor, and some undercooked computer generated superhero cameos that don't really move the plot along in the slightest. They're only here for the nostalgia factor and it ends up feeling kinda meh if not surprising. Even though it's fun to see them, it wears away at the already super thin production values and writing. However, some of the choices they make in that department are definitely an interesting route. There's some alternates that we never expected in a million years.
With the off-putting and eccentric Ezra Miller the main focal point of the feature, The Flash is the final movie in the current line-up before James Gunn relaunches and reboots DC with new actors taking up many of the key roles. The return of Michael Keaton as the '89 Bruce Wayne/Batman is the absolute highlight of The Flash. In fact, he takes up much of the space that would normally belong to the central character. The dedication to recreating the sets from Tim Burton's classic are definitely worth the watch. And Keaton proves he still has it. He looks excellent in the suit and maintains the same physicality, even if the CGI action ultimately steals from his spotlight.
The addition of Sasha Calle as Supergirl is another definite high point of the movie. Her pained version of the character adds some much-needed darkness to the film. As the multiple Barrys are making awful quips and finding humor during potentially life ending battles with an alien army, she's there to add a balance that would have been missing otherwise. It would have been great to have more of her character in this extended universe because she's a definite standout player. She could easily stand toe to toe with Gadot's Wonder Woman.
2023's The Flash is a version of The Flashpoint Paradox that's missing many of the key points of that story. Ideas are glossed over and much needed alternate heroes are missing. While Andy Muschietti (IT) rallies in an attempt to hit the reset button, it doesn't fully work. It's been said (even promised) that this movie would be the regeneration mark for this cinematic universe overall. It (in fact) does nothing of the sort. The Flash is just another symptom of studio toiling at its worst coming to one final head. This movie and its promotion feels like a lot of misdirection that WB will ultimately have to answer for.
It's really too bad that WB had no idea what they were doing when they kick started this entire universe because there has been some good and some really bad. With the conclusion of The Flash and its lack of that expected reset button, it's good to look forward to what's to come. Maybe in their next alternate universe things can be a little bit more structured and have some continuity. See this movie for Michael Keaton and Sasha Calle, stay for Michael Shannon's highly edited return as Zod, leave knowing that it's finally over.
I certainly hope we're not reaching the saturation point for multiverse movies because much of The Flash feels regurgitated.
-CG