By Jorge Ignacio Castillo

Editor’s note: Here at The Canadian Crew we believe in reviewing the art, not the artist. Our review of The Flash won’t be affected by the events that have surrounded Ezra Miller in the last year. We reserve, however, the right to make a sarcastic remark or two.

(The Flash. Dir: Andy Muschietti. USA, 2023): The DCEU in its current incarnation is coming to an end. The creative team headed by James Gunn and Peter Safran is bringing new ideas to the fore and, while they claim it won’t be a clean break, it won’t be the same as imagined early on by Zack Snyder.

One could argue about the merits of the Snyderverse movies, but the casting has been by large spot-on. Cavill, Gadot, Momoa. All terrific. Never mind their behavior of late, Ezra Miller belongs in that group. A breath of lightness among heavy drama, the Flash was the one reliable source of joy regardless of who was at the helm.

Now at the center of his own movie, the Flash reveals shades that make him more compelling than any of his two-dimensional companions at the Justice League. We reencounter Barry Allen (Miller) feeling somewhat resentful. He thinks of himself as Batman’s janitor and is increasingly dissatisfied with his work-superhero life balance.

But his issues with the League are minor compared to the drama at home. Barry’s dad is in jail for killing his mom (he didn’t do it, the movie is quick to clarify) and his latest appeal is unlikely to succeed. In a fit of fury Barry realizes he can run so fast, he can turn back time. You know where this is going.

The Flash is not, by a long shot, the best superhero movie ever made, as hyperbolically was described early on. I would even venture the word-of-mouth strategy was more damaging than anything else. The film is fine: fun, well-constructed, strong enough to sustain the (increasingly annoying) idea of a multiverse. But live up to such hype, it does not.

Even though most promos have highlighted Michael Keaton’s return as Batman (delightful, but briefer than expected), the weight of The Flash falls squarely on Ezra Miller’s shoulders and they do a good job carrying it. Miller plays two versions of Barry, the one we know and his unburdened, cavalier younger self. Director Andy Muschietti (It) is particularly adept at balancing comedy and pathos and succeeds here as well, if at the expense of many supporting characters given thankless roles (Michael Shannon has it bad, but Antje Traue takes the cake).

It’s fair to wonder, why care about The Flash if the whole DCEU will be rebooted anyway? Here’s a thought: For the fun of it. Not every movie needs to be a franchise lynchpin. Think of The Flash as a self-contained adventure and you’ll have a far better time. 3/5 stars. The Flash is now playing.