The fluttering anticipation for the latest comic book adaptation draws audiences like moths to a flame. This time around, it's the scarlet speedster's turn to step into the limelight. The Flash, headlined by Ezra Miller, will be released on June 16 - a full 10 days after the review embargo has lifted. This is an expression of Warner Bros. Discovery's confidence in the film. But, its arrival appears to have been welcomed by an interesting mix of reactions.
The Flash, directed by Andy Muschietti, has been hailed by a handful of critics as a "wildly fun" endeavor and a "jewel in the DCU canon." However, there are also those whose expectations were eclipsed by the seeming shortcomings of the movie, calling it a "lackluster outing" for the outgoing DC Extended Universe.
Nevertheless, the strength of the film's early reviews on Rotten Tomatoes sees it holding a sturdy 73% score, at the time of writing. Miller's dual performance is a point of praise, with Rolling Stone's David Fear commending Miller's ability to portray nuanced layers within two similar but also different characters, peeling back to reveal a complicated spectrum of emotions. Slashfilm's Ben Pearson agrees with this, contending that, despite Miller's off-screen controversies, the actor more than redeemed themselves with their best and most crowd-pleasing performance to date.
Uproxx's Mike Ryan notes that the film's true potency lies in its human dimension, particularly in its portrayal of Barry's love for his mother, which he argues makes the film a surprisingly emotionally charged experience.
For a better idea of how critics are rating The Flash, make sure to check out the round-up below:
- London Evening Standard - 4/5
- IGN - 7/10
- Paste - 7/10
- ScreenCrush - 6/10
- RogerEbert - 2.5/4
- The Guardian - 2/5
- Times (UK) - 2/5
While there's no denying that the dazzling performance of Ezra Miller captured the hearts of many, some critics suggest that the film's momentum slows to a crawl due to its over-reliance on fan service and a less-than-impressive CGI.
The majority of the negative feedback, when it's not about Miller's off-screen troubles, is mainly centered around the CGI and its overall lack of polish.
It's unclear what the public's reaction to the film is going to be like. However, it's worth noting that The Flash is following a recent trend when it comes to comic book film adaptations. Ahead of their release, these films usually get positive reviews and glowing praise from early reactions only to get mixed reviews once the review embargo lifts. For what it's worth, The Flash's review scores aren't half-bad and it's showing signs of getting better, especially as several audiences are very vocal against critics who can't separate Miller's performance in The Flash from the controversies Miller has faced in real life.
Miller is well aware of this fact, which is why they're preferring to avoid the promotional tour, opting to attend only its premiere on June 12 - nothing else.
Whether The Flash is considered a triumph or a shortfall at the global box office, one thing is evident: its presence in the superhero cinematic landscape has sparked a flurry of conversations.
With its bold narrative ambition, The Flash could've been an excellent entry into the DC Extended Universe. Unfortunately, because it's largely all for naught, you can't help but wonder what the main takeaway from the film will be. The mark it will leave on the DC Universe will likely show itself eventually, especially as Andy Muschietti returns to direct The Brave and The Bold for James Gunn's new cinematic universe.
Ironically, for a film about a superhero who can get anywhere at any time, The Flash will have to wait to find out its lasting legacy.
