The Flash has a troubled star but there is no denying this is one of DC’s best films.

The Flash is a movie that defies easy explanation. It didn’t meet my all expectations but it’s a good movie, and one of the better DCEU films that Warner Brothers (now Warner Discovery) has produced. Ezra Miller delivers a stand out performance, but is incredibly problematic as our protagonist. This is especially true considering the allegations against them and the fact that the The Flash is a movie intended to be a family summertime movie. But judging this film solely based upon what I saw on screen The Flash is a good movie with the potential to be great, if Warner Discovery had been willing to utilize the source material, the DC mini series Flashpoint to its full extent. 

The casting director for The Flash deserves recognition because while I have criticisms for the film, none of that criticism is applicable to the cast, which was superb. Judging only their performance Ezra Miller produces a genuinely wonderful take on two wildly different versions of Barry Allen. Unlike Tom Holland in Spider Man No Way Home, who had the assistance of Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield in playing multiple Spidermen, Ezra Miller is doing double duty the majority of the film. I should add that while I found Barry Allen intolerable in Justice League, and just slightly better in Zach Snyder’s cut of the film, this performance shows why they were cast. Miller’s performance as both Barry’s gives the film its heart. Some of the best scenes in the film just have Miller’s Barry with his mother Nora played by Maribel Verdú. While Ezra Miller’s Flash will never be my preferred version of the character I can’t question their talent or the caliber of their performance. 

The performances of the rest of the cast are equally worthy of praise. Sasha Callie was a joy as Supergirl and it would be a waste of Ms. Callie’s talent and Kara Zor-El as character if this is last we see of this incarnation of Supergirl. I hope that the powers that be at Warner Discovery have her return to the role in the near future. Without spoiling the events of the film, Michael Keaton is the highlight of every scene he’s in. I couldn’t help to think back to when he first played the role in 1989’s Batman and his return to the character was everything I hoped it would be. Which is why its maddening that we spend so little time with him. As with Ms Callie I think fans would line up to see Keaton get the opportunity to reprise the character in a standalone film. We never did get that third Burton/Keaton Batman movie. I would be remiss if I didn’t note that Michael Shannon’s Zod was wasted. While it was great to see him in that role again, considering the caliber of actor that Mr. Shannon is, I would have preferred that the script gave the character more to do. In the end his presence in the film feels more like an extended cameo and the film’s third act really would have benefited from more Zod.

My biggest grip with The Flash is that it doesn’t take advantage the original Flashpoint story or Barry’s time travel to position this new version of the DC movie universe. Considering the level of fan hostility to the DCEU after its decision to abandon the universe DC’s fans had been supporting and watching since Man of Steel it’s strange that Warner Brother Discovery didn’t take this opportunity to let the fans know what’s in this new universe. While I know that the official launch of the new DCEU won’t start till Superman Legacy releases in 2025 it was genuinely frustrating to walk out of the film with no clue about the characters we’ve grown to love or their future. More than anything it would have been a great way to win back jagged fans and feels like a missed opportunity.

I won’t spoil the after credits scenes but I’ll just say I found them and the cameos towards the end of the film as a little underwhelming. But ultimately judging this film solely on what I saw on screen The Flash is one of the better DCEU movies with a stellar cast and special effects that really stood out.