Film Review: ‘The Flash’ Makes a Splash with a Literal Dash

Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 16, 2023 - 12:28am

CHICAGO – It amazes me to say it but with “The Flash” the DC cinematic universe has managed to actually make a movie that’s fun, for at least a little while. Even previously heralded DC movies like “Wonder Woman” left me cold with their incessant insistence on bludgeoning the audience with digital destruction.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The film starts off with a bang with Barry Allen/The Flash (Miller) being called in by Alfred (yes that Alfred, portrayed by Jeremy Irons) to come in and clean up a bat-mess with a hospital maternity ward in danger of collapse. This opening scene strikes just the right tone injecting humor into the set piece, as The Flash races to recharge his energy levels by scarfing down vending machine snacks while saving infants and a hysterical maternity nurse during a baby shower.

The plot involves yet another multiverse adventure where Barry is still grieving the loss of his mother (Maribel Verdú) as a child. His father (Ron Livingston) has been locked up and accused of her murder. Barry figures out he can run fast enough to actually go back in time, so he decides to go back to change history to save his mother. But he gets knocked out of his time travel loop back before the moment he gains his powers where he meets up with his 18-year-old college freshman self.

”The Flash” is in theaters on June 16th. Featuring Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Maribel Verdú, and Ron Livingston. Screenplay by Christina Hodson. Directed by Andy Muschietti. Rated “PG-13”