POSSIBLE SLIGHT SPOILERS, TRIED TO KEEP THEM TO A MINIMUM. READ AT YOUR RISK.
I will preface this review with the following statement: I will NOT be discussing the allegations against Ezra Miller. I find that reviewers at all would bring it up in their reviews as sensationalist, and undignified, and isn’t an actual part of what is on screen, and thus should be kept to gossip sheets and not what should be impartial reviews. Preface out of the way, let’s begin.
Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) is still looking to clear his dad’s (Ron Livingston) name. A chance encounter with his school crush, Iris West (Kiersey Clemons, who unfortunately isn’t given much to do) as well as his dad’s impending (and likely doomed) appeal date is sending Barry down memory lane to the day his mom was killed. However, Iris accidentally starts planting the seed of an idea in Barry’s head…about changing the past. You see, after an intense fight in Gotham alongside Batman (Ben Affleck, finally with a proper Batman voice and not that damn voice changer), and a run to clear his head, Barry realized he can time travel should he speed up enough. Bruce Wayne, of course, warns him against such a notion, but that is quickly ignored. Barry ends up creating major changes to the timeline…with dire ramifications. Teaming up with his younger timeline self (also Miller), who I’ll call Barry B, it’s up to Barry of the main timeline to save the world and make things right.
Miller actually carries the movie well. They’re quite good in the dual roles of both Barrys, though Barry B is immensely aggravating. A spoiled lazy college kid with an Amadeus laugh, he is, in short, an annoying dumbbell. One that his future, alt-timeline self wants to punch, repeatedly. However, he’s not the most magnetic presence on the screen.
Michael Keaton steals the show the SECOND he jumps onto the screen. An older, wiser, more grizzled Bruce (who is retired), he acts as advisor and mentor to both Flashes. He’s also as well versed in time travel theoretics, something that impresses Barry Prime; as well as bonding over their mutual tragedies. It’s GREAT to see Keaton back in the Batsuit, and he delivers (or his stuntman delivers) probably the best action seen in that rubber costume.
Sasha Calle’s Supergirl doesn’t get enough screentime, sadly, and her character is a little undercooked. This Kara Zor-El was launched in a pod the same time as baby Kal-El was…but they got separated. Stuck in a Soviet prison (yes, Soviet, Barry created a LOT of weird changes), she becomes the lynch pin in Barry Prime’s plan to save the world from General Zod (Michael Shannon, returning from Man of Steel on this alternate timeline).
In many ways, the plot of the film is about the ability, or inability, of letting go and living. Barry of course is majorly this, as his want to save his mom’s life causes all the chaos. But Zod is also emblematic of this, as he continues to singlemindedly put the survival of a dead planet above that of another world. Even Keaton’s Batman finds it hard to let go of the past. It also figures into the grand finale, but I won’t go into why, as that’s a MAJOR spoiler.
Speaking of the past, there are cameos from DC superhero portrayers from the past, with a combo of archival footage and CGI. Some people are calling it ghoulish, but they’re so small as part of the plot (and mainly some easter eggs) so I don’t see why there’s this major eruption. Ditto with the CGI. Yes, it is wonky at times (especially the time travel sequences), but again I think some Internet people overplayed their reaction to it.
The overall script is solid, if predictable (especially for comics fans). But the characterizations of the main characters, and some surprises, remain strong. Barry B however is COMPLETELY aggravating, and some of the humor is not that great. The post credit scene (yes there is one), feels a bit unneeded as well.
Now, given that there is a DC reboot on the horizon, should you see this? Yes. Not every film has to be the next chapter of a franchise, some can be stand alone and quite enjoyable. The fact people need something to be part of something else to choose to see it is quite baffling as I saw plenty one-offs as a kid. I know it’s the changing nature of the audience, but I think they’re being silly.
Speaking of being silly, there’s a reason why I called this the “In/Ability To Let Go.” There are too many people and factions invested in seeing DC movies flop. The biggest faction is, of course, the Zack Snyder extremists. These are people who are the epitome of “the inability to let go”. And as the film shows, that could lead to self destruction, as well as other kinds of destruction. In the end, you can choose to be able to let go (not going into how that ties into the movie), or you don’t. And if you don’t, that will embitter and destroy you, a la Rorschach (and NO ONE should be a Rorschach. There’s no Watchmen stuff in the movie, I just wanted to make a metaphor.)
It is a shame that this movie is currently underperforming. It is a solid, fun, popcorn flick. If this be the end of the DCEU, it is at least ending with the acceptance of change.
8 out of 10.