Ezra Miller takes centre stage in The Flash despite their real-life controversies (Picture: DC)
Cancel culture is the new Kryptonite when it comes to defeating superheroes. The Flash was reportedly almost scrapped after its main star Ezra Miller faced multiple accusations of assault, burglary, grooming minors and even running a cult in Iceland.
Miller has since apologised and the non-binary actor has declared they are seeking help with their mental health.
In case you’re not up on your comic book characters, The Flash (aka goofy 20-something criminology nerd Barry Allen) is the one who can run really, really fast. So fast, in fact, that in this movie he discovers he can move through time – that means he can potentially change it and go back to save his mom (Maribel Verdú) and dad (Ron Livingston).
Tinkering with the past is never a good idea, as his colleague Batman (initially Ben Affleck) points out. Not only because it can trigger unpredictable Butterfly effects, but because [adopts Batffleck growl] ‘these scars we have make us who we are.’ Wise advice The Flash totally ignores.
What unfolds is a time-and-multiverse hopping caper packed with flashes of fun for everyone as well as innumerable opportunities for fans to geek out: notably a nostalgia-overload of Batmen, accessorised by an Argos catalogue’s worth of Bat Gadgets.
However, a smart, playful script, penned by Christina Hodson (Birds Of Prey) does its best to hold emotional focus on the characters and Barry/ Flash’s pull towards reuniting his family provides the film’s most memorable beats.
For most of the movie, Miller adeptly plays two versions of the character: The Flash plus his younger, dumber self, to soulful and versatile comic effect. Add in an amused Keaton explaining the multiverse via a bowl of spaghetti and there’s barely room for anyone else.
This means that secondary characters (mainly female) get sidelined. Kiersey Clemons barely gets a look in as Barry’s crush, Iris West, whilst Sasha Calle’s grumpy supergirl enters the fray too late in the day along with Michael Shannon’s glowering General Zod.
We’re all feeling a bit multi-versed out right now in the wake of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. But The Flash still races along nicely – no mean feat when it’s 2 hours 25min long.
The Flash (12A) is out 16 June in cinemas.
Source My Celebrity Life.
