Summary
The Flash strikes the perfect balance of heartfelt, action-packed nostalgia and is the best DC comic book movie since The Dark Knight Rises.
Here is our review of the 2023 DC film The Flash, which does not contain spoilers.
I had low expectations for the standalone The Flash movie, considering it had been trapped in development hell for nearly a decade. Not to mention the personal struggles faced by its star, Ezra Miller. However, to my surprise and against all odds, The Flash was a funny, heartfelt, unexpectedly poignant, and action-packed nostalgic experience.
And in my opinion, The Flash is the best DC movie since The Dark Knight Rises.
The Flash Review and Plot Summary
The story immediately has Barry Allen (Miller) turn into his superhero persona, The Flash, because Alfred (Jeremy Irons) immediately needs him to back up his boss.
Unfortunately, Batman (Ben Affleck) leaves him holding the bag rescuing a group of newborns at a hospital while the Caped Crusader chases a group of thieves who steal a deadly weapon.
Barry, however, has more pressing matters on his mind, including his father’s (Ron Livingston) retrial to overturn his conviction for his wife’s murder when Barry was just a child. Firmly believing in his father’s innocence, he decides to change the past by preventing his mother’s death.
However, his actions inadvertently lead to him becoming trapped in an alternate reality.
Directed by Andy Muschietti (It) and written by screenwriter Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey, Bumblebee), this standalone film truly shines when it explores the iconic character’s experiences within the metahuman multiverse.
Particularly engaging is when Miller’s Scarlet Speedster seeks help from his younger self to rescue his mother and find his way back home.
This is where The Flash strikes, pun intended, the perfect balance for a comic book film. Muschietti and Hodson skillfully blend entertainment and excitement, infusing the script with delightful cameos, well-timed humor, and an understanding that the emotional bond between a mother and child can add depth to any narrative.
Yes, its story is clearly a rip-off of a similar Marvel movie, particularly with its spidey-sense cameos.
However, that shouldn’t be an issue since these two comic book empires have been stealing from each other for decades. DC’s Doctor Fate was written well before Doctor Strange, and Marvel’s Namor appeared before Aquaman. The point is, it’s not a competition. It’s getting lost in the moment.
Is the 2023 movie The Flash good or bad?
The Flash is a good movie, despite the bad press it has received from its star. There have been many new stories about Ezra Miller’s personal life, which resulted in his probation. Nonetheless, Miller is perfect here, reveling in the role and showing an excellent blend of goofiness, nerdiness, and poignant vulnerability, particularly with Maribel Verdú, who plays his mother, Nora.
The gifted actor has always been perfectly cast in this role, and it’s finally paid off handsomely.
Is the 2023 movie The Flash Worth Watching?
The Flash is worth watching and strikes the perfect blend of heartfelt, action-packed nostalgia. The dazzling special effects are exciting, the inspired cast (and the plethora of cameos) delivers, and the completely and utterly delightful combination of geek-filled homage to Back to the Future and The Parent Trap, set within its rad comic book nostalgia. The Flash is the movie of the summer.
I just wish they had the foresight to throw in an Eric Stoltz cameo, which will make more sense once you watch Muschietti’s film.
What did you think of the 2023 film The Flash? Comment below.
Did we watch the same movie? Was not enjoyable from the start. I was hoping it would get better as it went along but it never got there. The highlight of the movie was the appearance of George Clooney!! And that was it!