The Flash

 

One of this weeks’ highly anticipated and controversial films, The Flash, has hit theaters.  Two things.  First, my knowledge/familiarity of the title character is limited to what takes place in this film as well as Justice League (both versions) and Peacemaker. And 2) my reason for wanting to see this one can be boiled down to two words: Michael Keaton. With those things in mind, I have mixed feelings on this one.  Onto the good, the bad, and the ugly that is The Flash.

The good.  

The really good.  

No, make that the amazing and easily the biggest saving grace of The Flash is exactly what I wanted to see in the first place.  Michael Keaton.  Pardon my language but Keaton’s appearance is the absolute shit and his presence alone makes this movie worth watching. There have been numerous actors that have donned the cape and cowl as Batman, but for me Keaton is the one that made me love the character and, in The Flash, I fell in love all over again.  Every moment on screen as either Bruce Wayne or Batman took me to my happy place, made me smile, made me feel, and made me thankful to still be alive to bear witness to his performance.  Keaton brings gravitas, warmth, compassion, and elevates this film immensely.  So much so I feel bad for Ben Affleck returning as Batfleck.  He may have to stature and the overall “look”, but for my money he once again falls short on everything else. 

Ezra Miller.  

Whew.  

As far as their dual role performance did a good job overall.  My biggest issue came in the characterization of 18-year-old Barry.  Maybe it’s my lack of a deeper knowledge/understanding but it seems off to me.  Barry’s established as smart kid, over thinker if anything.  Flash/Elder Barry is also highly intelligent.  18-year-old Barry is to put it mildly something of an idiot in comparison and I often found annoying and off putting.

Sasha Calle as Supergirl is fine.  I’ve never really cared about this character, but I really don’t have an issue here.  She’s there.  She’s fine.  She gets to kick some ass and looks good doing so.  She’s not much more than a MacGuffin, so...whatever.

Speaking of MacGuffins, The Flash is rife with them.  

Michael Shannon’s General Zod, the multiversal worlds, and numerous cameos.  They all play towards fan service, but disappointingly so in how they fall short. For a 2-hour 24-minute movie there was an opportunity to really do something with these things beyond a quick “looksy” and move on.  Nice to see, but overall disappointing. 

The bad and the ugly.

The humor. 

While there are some good laughs, there are too many thuds to ignore.  One of which is so cringe I felt like I was watching a meme being made before my eyes.  I could see and hear David Caruso doing his best CSI: Miami starring at the camera, pulling off his shades, and delivering the line in place of Miller. Yep, it took me completely out of the film and seeing how early in the movie it occurs, not good.  Not good at all.

The CGI work has issues and combined with script issues is problematic at best and ridiculous at worse. In one instance I not only shook my head and was muttering “seriously?” over and again but made a mental not to see who wrote this film because it seems like the people behind Fire Country’s season finale had reared their heads. The tonal balance between trying to be light-hearted and fun and deep/meaningful is often choppy.

Again, maybe it’s me, but the biggest issue I have with The Flash is I’m left wondering, what’s the point?  The overall story doesn’t feel like it does much beyond throwing various elements together in the name of fan service.  Fine.  I love fan service as much as the next person, but honestly this didn't even feel like good fan service. It also never felt like there was anything resembling high stakes at risk throughout the film.  There’s quite a lot of sizzle, most of which washed over me, with little substance.  I didn’t hate The Flash, but I certainly didn’t love it the way I hoped either.  

In fact, the more I think about the film the more I’m disappointed. I left the theater feeling overall I should’ve gone to see Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse again. With the exception of Michael Keaton that film has everything and did it better. 

The Flash gets a split vote from me.  

The overall film is a 5.

Michael Keaton gets a 10.

Oh yeah.  There is one post credit scene, you have to sit through the entire credit roll to see.

#theflash