It’s hard to believe that The Flash, one of the most iconic superheroes in pop culture, is only now receiving his first-ever feature film debut in 2023. Despite the many issues and problems that the movie’s production and development have faced over almost a decade since it was originally announced way back in 2014, the film is finally out and…well…

We have to ask: is The Flash worth all the hassle? Or is it a Flash in the pan?

Fastest Man Alive?

Andy Muschetti’s The Flash is essentially an adaptation of the popular Flashpoint event, but it takes many liberties with the details. As a fan of the comics, it’s refreshing to see a movie’s version of an iconic storyline that still retains the heart of the comics. The vibe of the movie is closer to that of an MCU movie than any of the older DCEU movies. The jokes are actually funny and The Flash is probably the most fun I’ve had in a DCEU movie since Aquaman and The Suicide Squad, as well as the Shazam movies too.

No matter what you think about Ezra Miller, there’s no denying that he gave it his all in The Flash. He’s funny and can be extremely emotional when the scene requires him to be. It’s also impressive how he plays two versions of the character that feel distinctive enough from each other. The real Barry is mature and a bit more cynical due to his experience, while the other Barry is happy-go-lucky and more optimistic, just like the real Barry was when he started as the Flash. There’s plenty of heart too, and there are moments that will tug on your heartstrings.

DC fans will be happy with all the surprising and unexpected cameos in the movie, as well as the healthy dose of Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne AKA Batman to boot. His presence definitely makes the movie better. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for Sasha Calle’s Kara Zor-El AKA Supergirl, who gets too little screen time to truly make any significant impact. With her sharing the spotlight with two Barrys and one Batman, it’s no wonder that one of them had to get the short end of the stick.

This is a CG-heavy movie, and while some of the VFX does look iffy (case in point, one scene involving flying babies), it looks good enough when it matters most, during the “speed” action moments though the climactic fight does end with another conventional superhero CG fest. You know, those moments we spend in the Speed Force. This is probably the most amount of cinematic speedster action we’ve ever gotten in a single movie, especially since Barry actually utilises his Speed Force abilities for more than just simply running really fast. For example, we get to see him phasing through walls, which is something the Flash does often in the comics and TV shows but not in previous movies for some reason.

Despite being more than two hours long, The Flash doesn’t feel draggy or messy, which isn’t usually the case with a DCEU movie. It’s perhaps due to the constant but balanced flow of comedy and action. Perhaps the biggest flaw of the movie is that it doesn’t have a proper Flash villain as the main antagonist. I can’t spoil the details, of course, but the movie revolves around Barry Allen, with almost all of the focus on him and his problems. The villain is pretty much only there as a plot device to move the narrative forward. It’s a bit disappointing that the first-ever Flash movie doesn’t feature a major Flash villain.

Mad Multiverse

The Flash is a movie that DC fans will be able to appreciate the most. It could have been better, but from what we know (of the movie’s production issues and problems with Ezra Miller), it certainly could have been a lot worse. In hindsight, The Flash turned out a lot better than expected. While it’s a little bit sad that this marks the (near) end of the DCEU, at least it won’t end with a whimper but with something that’s somewhat worth remembering.

P.S.: There’s one post-credits scene at the very end of the credits.

FINAL SCORE: 70/100

We attended an early screener of The Flash courtesy of Warner Bros. Malaysia. The Flash is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 15 June 2023.