Fast laughs and drama make this campy DC entertainment.
I’m watching “The Flash” with some B-movie anticipation, as in my eyes it’s the first movie I’ve seen Michael Keaton as Batman in a New York theater since 2006 when I saw the 1989 “Batman” at what once was the Ziegfeld theater. It may not sound like a big deal to you readers, but it’s part of my life.
As I’m watching “The Flash,” I find some very big laughs with Ezra Miller portraying two Barry Allens from two parallel universes, as the Barry Allen we know is The Flash, and the younger, immature Barry Allen we’re meeting will become The Flash.
As I’m watching the movie, I’m seeing the Barry Allen we know trying to prove his father (Ron Livingston) didn’t murder his mother (Maribel Verdu), and learning the hard way that he can’t save her the way he hopes. The Butterfly Effect is one thing; the multiverse going AWOL, that’s a whole other story. Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) tries to warn the young man about that.
As I’m watching the movie, I admire how Keaton returns to his roots as Bruce Wayne, who meets both Barry Allens and comes out of retirement as Batman to stop the evil General Zod (Michael Shannon) from destroying the world Barry lands in. Remember, in this world General Zod is still alive, and wants Superman to fulfill his destiny. Instead, we have Supergirl (Sasha Calle) filling in, and at this rate, these are the only ones to form the Justice League in this universe.
And as I’m watching the movie, I start to become overwhelmed by the silly CGI effects, long narrative (running for 2 hours and 25 min), and the third act which is just as disappointing as the third act in “Army of the Dead.” Only we’re not talking about zombie movies; we’re talking about how Zod declares war on humanity, and how both Barry Allens struggle to make things right with the world.
And I’m sorry I kept saying “As I’m watching the movie“ over and over again, but I had to express my viewing experience in my own strange ways.
“The Flash” was directed by Andy Muschietti, who also made “Mama” and the “It” movies. He does an affective job bringing Miller and Keaton in the right territories, as they both have comical and emotional aspects.
The editing makes Miller and Miller talking to each other funny, especially the way the immature Barry thinks being a superhero is cool, while the mature Barry tries to be his mentor. I like to consider them in a Roger Rabbit and Eddie Valent tradition.
And Keaton is able to survive the 2020s as Bruce Wayne, because he fits well with age, and has the kind of charm that makes him iconic. The 1989 “Batman” is how I knew who he was when I was a kid, and when I met him back in 2015, he admitted he still has his Bruce Wayne in him. And I would have love to have gotten more out of his life, after witnessing the Penguin dying and Catwoman disappearing in “Batman Returns.” In this universe, the events of “Batman Forever” and “Batman & Robin” have been erased, so I was curious and I still am.
I have my reservations against it, because of how the wall-to-wall special effects and screenplay doesn’t give them “Justice.” Pun intended. But I actually got more laughs and heart out of the film than I did with “Shazam: Fury of the Gods.” And even if Miller has gotten himself in hot water with the media, he still delivers the goods in this role. Bring on the comments people!
I liked the movie. It’s a little confusing, with going back and forth, but I really enjoyed it