The Flash Review - DCEU's Messy Multiverse Is Saved By Super Fan Frenzy Cameos

Horror film specialist Andy Muschietti attempts to exorcist the DCEU from the dark clouds with their latest superhero saga, "The Flash". DC is pretty late to join the multiverse zone compared to Marvel, but they had something that Marvel didn't have. Yes, No Way Home did bring Sam Raimi's nostalgia back, but we can never forget that DC's Superman and Batman are far older and better known than the MCEU. The Flash tries to cash in on that nostalgia goofed up in a multiverse defined by time travel with a reference to the iconic "Back to the Future". That's how crazy things are here, but then there's a lot of crazy fun too. The Flash doesn't hit like a lightning bolt, but fair enough to provide you with a kick. Yes, it's too messy to enjoy, but the whole point of getting your logic right rests peacefully with that twist in the end.The Flash has a super-pacy opening sequence as The Flash (Ezra Miller) is called by Alfred (Jeremy Irons) to help The Batman (Ben Affleck) save the city from a disaster. There is a sweet cameo by Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) to make the opening sequence even better. The Flash then unknowingly unleashes the power of travelling back in time. That gives him an idea to prevent his mother's death, but it traps him in an alternate reality without metahumans. To save the world from General Zod (Michael Shannon), Barry enlists the help of his younger self, who has now got his powers, to turn things back to normal. A screamer follows as he meets the Batman of that universe, played by none other than Michael Keaton. A Kryptonian castaway, Supergirl (Sasha Calle), joins this super team to beat the mighty Zod since there is no Superman (Henry Cavill).You know, Doctor Strange could have fixed things in "Infinity War," but he didn't. Because he knew that some things cannot be fixed; they are inevitable. He did travel and saw everything that could happen or could have happened from a different perspective to realise a universal law of factuality. MCEU did not bother showing us all his attempts that might have failed; rather, they just finished the whole thing in half a minute. But the DCEU has made a whole multiverse film on the same topic now. The Flash is about the whole process—every different attempt he would do to change things in the past so that his present, aka future, can be different. But little did he know that he was giving birth to new problems and new timelines. Technically, it's a child's play to watch a whole movie based on this idea and that too, for about 145 minutes. But like I said, the entire strategy somehow finds a solution in the end, even after the so-called happy ending, which is highly deceptive.The Flash has some things going against it, and Ezra Miller's performance is the most visible thing out of a whole bunch. We are used to the first Barry, so we know what he is and how he is at times. But the second Barry, aka the younger version, is not just irritating but also childish on occasion. Ezra is the only guy who has a full-fledged role in the film, so his failure as an actor does great harm. Sasha Calle couldn't have replaced Henry Cavill in any universe, but in her own small role, the cute little girl has done somewhat decent. Ron Livingston hardly appears, Michael Shannon isn't used well, Maribel Verdú walks in between, and Kiersey Clemons is barely noticeable as Barry's wannabe girlfriend. Ben Affleck disappears after a good start, but maybe that's why we love Michael Keaton so much. Seeing two Batmans together would have been a dream moment, but was it practically possible? Keaton wears the suit and cape again to take us back to the 90s' memories, so we should be thankful to the old man.The Flash was a difficult film for the visual effects experts, as they had to create that circular handler that is the centre of this time travel. They made it like a sports ground, so I'm not sure how people will take that. Though it starts looking better with every next viewing, especially in the climax. The cinematography and background score are okay with less effort to be remembered. The Flash slashes through many rough jokes, while some are hysterical enough. I mean, who cuts horns from Batman's mask? To sum up the negatives, I'd say The Flash is a pretty overslaughed and overlapped flick. Those Supergirl smashes look cartoonish; those "I am The Flash" and "I am The Batman" quotes are too outdated now; even the villain's conflicts are radical now. Some fresh meat and fresh beer, and this popcorn flick could have been so much fun. Andy Muschietti comes from a horror background to make a superhero-horror drama in DC's new wave. The horror is different from monster-driven and ghost-driven films, though. Overall, it's a decent attempt, if not good, uplifted by some crazy fan-driven cameos and nostalgia. Going in for the old Batman? Well, don't be so sure that you'll only get him. *Lips locked*