MARCUS CHEONG says ‘The Flash’ sets a high bar for itself but delivers on all counts…
The Flash (AU-M/UK-12A/US-PG-13)
In A Word – Stunning
A scene from The Flash. PICTURE: Courtesy of Warner Bros
The DC movie universe has been a messy affair. Multiple reboots, cancellations and corporate changes at the highest level has led to a mixed bag of movies that range from awesome to awful. The Flash manages to navigate this literal spaghetti of stories in a stunning display of imagination, action and truly heartfelt emotion.
“The Flash sets a high bar on what it sets out to achieve and delivers on all counts. It is fan service, a life out loud comedy, a blockbuster action tentpole, a deeply moving personal story, and it manages to salute the entire history of DC movies.”
Hot on the heels of the Justice League, Barry Allen, aka The Flash (Ezra Miller), is at the height of his powers. He is able to avert disasters and save the innocent with his spectacular speed. However the one tragedy he is unable to repair is the death of his mother 10 years ago, when he was a child. With the astonishing discovery that he can run so fast that he can go back in time, he travels back to the year his mother was still alive and changes the past to save her. This one act sets into motion forces in the universe that merges the past, present and future in unpredictable and dangerous ways.
The Flash takes inspiration from the source material of the pivotal Flashpoint comic book series and it is a brilliant device to tie together the tapestry of DC movies over the decades. The story enables The Flash to partner with iconic heroes both new and old that make the scope of this film much larger than initially expected. Fans will be truly delighted with the casting choices and cameos that make an appearance. Director Andy Muschietti (It, Mama) expertly weaves multiple versions of characters that continually surprises and entertains the audience. The action sequences are delivered with a fresh visual style that gives audiences something truly novel to see in this overcrowded genre.
The skillful screenplay manages to encompass both an origin story for The Flash and an epilogue to other characters that have been featured on film throughout the years. Ezra Miller, despite his real world controversies, manages to deliver an outstanding performance that is equal parts, awkward, amusing and emotive.
At the heart of the experience is Barry’s internal struggle on what it means to be a hero. “Sometimes not all problems have a solution”, is a lesson that The Flash must come to accept. In doing so, he learns that to save the world, it may mean sacrificing the one person he loves most. There is divine truth in this theme, that is portrayed with such authentic pathos that it will leave audience in tears amidst all the action.
The Flash sets a high bar on what it sets out to achieve and delivers on all counts. It is fan service, a life out loud comedy, a blockbuster action tentpole, a deeply moving personal story, and it manages to salute the entire history of DC movies.
