Another week, another film dealing with a multiverse in some shape or form. This time it's in the shape of The Flash, the next DC film in line that has seen plenty of trouble since it was first announced. Directors came on board and left the project while its lead star has been getting publicity for just about all the wrong reasons. Whether the film is any good is another thing altogether so, with that in mind, let's get to it.
Worlds collide when the Flash (Ezra Miller) 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 (Michael Shannon) has returned, threatening annihilation. With no other superheroes to turn to, the Flash looks to coax a very different Batman (Michael Keaton) out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian (Sasha Calle) -- albeit not the one he's looking for.
Right, there's no denying The Flash is a lot of film thrown in your face. There's aspects of it that land rather well but then there are others that don't. For the most part, this is a film that does really well to tell a coherent story as it threatens to break out into chaos that can't be contained. Without sounding derogatory towards the film, it feels like a pulpy Saturday morning cartoon brought to life which always felt like it could be the case with the direction the narrative takes. Andy Muschietti handles the emotional core of the film incredibly well, a shining beacon amidst all the multiversal chaos. There's some really ambitious stuff that happens towards the film's climax, some of it incredibly questionable but there's a sense of overwhelming joy seeing some things we thought we may never see come to fruition on the big screen.
Clunky visuals at times, particularly in the final act, don't help the film when it's already trying to do so many things at once. The use of the speed force looks great near the start of the film yet nowhere near as good in the latter stages. It's obvious to tell which Barry Allen has had CGI used on his face too, Ezra Miller looking like a non-playable character from an old GTA game in some scenes. The score from Benjamin Wallfisch is pretty epic, incorporating the Danny Elfman Batman score so wonderfully to proceedings, while moments in the speed force come across as mystical thanks to lighter tones.
Coming to the performances, Ezra Miller leads the film with a double performance that starts off with the potential to be a little grating but soon develops into something endearing. Having not been much of a fan of Miller in the role previously, they deliver a performance that holds the film together. Alongside Miller we see Sasha Calle make her debut as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl, and what a debut it is. Calle brings such fierceness to this iteration of the character who finds herself in a sticky situation before taking on Zod in the finale, Michael Shannon returning with much less energy than in Man of Steel.
Michael Keaton's return as Bruce Wayne/Batman has been used heavily in the marketing and it's so great to see him donning the suit again having a blast as the caped crusader. Yes, it's the ultimate fan service but his presence feels natural to the story and doesn't feel anywhere as gimmicky as it could have.
The Flash ends up being a very mixed bag, ambitious in its scope yet not always executed in the best manner. James Gunn has taken over the reins at DC Studios and can hopefully guide them into a more coherent and better quality cinematic universe. Whether any of the consequences from this film play a part in that future remains to be seen but I'd just love to see him expand upon that closing scene.
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