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The Flash has been a long time coming and in a sense it’s amazing it’s even here what with the upcoming DC Studios reboot under James Gunn, the box office and critical failure of the Synderverse Justice League and Ezra Miller’s multiple private life controversies.
Yet the DC multiverse epic loosely based on the Flashpoint comic book has still managed to arrive in all its weird and wonderful glory, helmed masterfully by director Andy Muschetti.
The solo outing follows Barry Allen’s Flash travelling back in time to save his mother’s life, only to create an alternate reality where Ben Affleck’s Batman is replaced with Michael Keaton’s, last seen on the big screen over 30 years ago.
Teaming up with an 18-year-old variant of himself and this older Bruce Wayne, they set about recruiting Supergirl to save the world from an invading General Zod.
What follows is an energetic, wild and wacky quest full of eye-popping and often surreal CGI that climaxes in an action-packed let’s smash-everything third act. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
READ MORE: The Flash star Ezra Miller breaks silence on controversy at premiere
A real highlight of The Flash is Miller’s hilarious performance as both versions of Barry. Their clumsy, geeky interactions are a goofy joy to behold, especially when talking about Back to the Future.
Meanwhile, Keaton effortlessly reprises his Batman with such a gruff confidence, he may as well be wearing an Old Guys Rules T-shirt. Then there’s Sasha Calle, who is perfect as Superman’s cousin stern and sullen Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl.
Yet the return of Michael Shannon’s Zod, Affleck’s Batman, Jeremy Irons’ Alfred and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman doesn’t massively warrant their short screen time, even though it’s always nice to see them.
Nevertheless, there are a few big surprise cameos that were well worth the wait. At the film’s conclusion, Barry is arguing with two versions of himself who are convinced if they keep trying they can change time, even though some events are fixed – something he just has to come to terms with.
As the multiverse begins to collide other Batman and Superman variants begin to peer in including classic Man of Steel stars George Reeves, Christopher Reeves and Helen Slater’s Supergirl – recreated with some slightly ropey CGI.
There’s also Adam West’s Batman spotted running along, but the real highlight has to be Nicolas Cage’s long-haired Superman – from Tim Burton’s unmade Superman Lives – battling a giant spider with his laser eyebeams.
And if that wasn’t enough, Barry ends up trapped in the same universe as George Clooney’s Batman, who appears briefly as Bruce Wayne before the film’s conclusion and random end credits scene with Jason Momoa playing a drunk Aquaman variant from that reality. Where all this goes is anyone’s guess but a sequel crossing over into Gunn’s planned DCU would certainly be very welcome.
The Flash is out now in UK cinemas.
