After many delays, The Flash finally hits theaters this week, and DC is hoping it’s knock-your-socks-off levels of good. Hollywood has indeed been trying on and off to produce a feature starring the Flash since the 80s. It wasn’t until Ezra Miller appeared briefly as Barry Allen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) that the character finally made it onto the big screen. Even with the new direction, this current iteration with Ezra Miller in the titular role has seen its own share of setbacks, going through a carousel of directors and writers to find the perfect creative team. So, 67 years after the character’s comic book introduction, fans of all ages will finally get to see Barry as a leading character in his own movie. And honestly? It’s a story that was worth the wait.
Things are going great for Barry Allen, until he discovers he can use the Speed Force to travel back in time and stop certain things from happening – like the death of his mom. But, as Tony Stark said in another superhero universe, “You mess with time, it tends to mess back.” Even though his intentions are good, Barry changing the past creates a ripple effect that finds him trapped in a world where General Zod (Michael Shannon) is back and threatening annihilation. The only problem? This world doesn’t have any active superheroes. It’s up to Barry to put together a team and set things right. But even that might have unintended consequences south of good.
Does The Flash live up to expectations? Is it worth the many delays? Here are three reasons you should see The Flash when it speeds into theaters. Get tickets now.
It Sets Up DC’s Multiverse
It’s fitting that The Flash will serve as the introduction to DC’s Multiverse – the concept that there are multiple earths all existing at once – as the 1961 comic The Flash #123 was the first comic ever to introduce the idea of a multiverse, even if it wasn’t called that at the time. Now, Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) travels back in time hoping to prevent his mother’s death, only to end up in an alternate reality with a younger, powerless version of himself in a world without metahumans. Miller also portrays the younger Barry (though it would have been a nice nod to the nine-year-long CW television series if Grant Gustin had taken on the role of the alternate Barry). In this alternate universe, Bruce Wayne looks a little different than what Barry is used to, and Kara Zor-El is the superhero from Krypton, rather than her cousin Kal-El. Oh, and the Back to the Future franchise looks way different this time around. With The Flash resetting the DC Extended Universe, there’s no telling what stories and universes DC could be cooking up next for hungry fans.
You & The Flash Love Nostalgia
With more than a few tricks up its sleeve, the return of Michael Keaton’s strong and silent Batman from the 1989 Tim Burton film is the most prominent surprise appearance in The Flash. It’s been 31 years since Keaton last played the Caped Crusader in Batman Returns (1992), and while his embodiment of the character has a different edge to it this time – Bruce is older now, and more reluctant to join the fight for justice – his performance is just as perfect as we remember it being all those years ago. It’s no surprise that Keaton is often cited as the best Batman out there, and his unyielding portrayal shows us yet again just why he takes the number one spot in the hearts of so many fans. Don’t get us wrong – Ben Affleck, or “Batfleck,” if you will, leads the Justice League with brutal honesty and a splash of occasional compassion, but we simply couldn’t ask for a better actor to return to the role. And it doesn’t stop with Keaton. But we’ll just say that the surprises only get better from there.
It’s A Humorous Addition To The DCU
Many of the films in the DC Universe’s slate – and superhero films in general – have been critiqued for being too dark and brooding. Make no mistake, The Flash deals with plenty of heavy themes, including if it’s possible to change fate, and what you might be willing to risk while saving the ones you love even at the threat of global catastrophe. The action sequences and visual effects that are expected in any superhero movie are well choreographed, which is a crucial necessity when you’re dealing with a superhero whose whole thing is being able to run fast. But it also has plenty of humor throughout the film. Not just comedic quips sprinkled in here and there, but full scenes that will have the whole theater laughing. A generous portion of the comedy comes from Miller’s portrayal of both versions of Barry, and you have to applaud them for being able to bounce that many jokes around with not only their co-stars, but also while acting opposite themselves. Truthfully, the alternate Barry’s super suit should be a whole new genre of comedy in and of itself because it might just be the funniest thing DC has created.
The Flash sprints into theaters everywhere on June 16.
