I’m not wildly familiar with The Flash except for his DCEU appearances, a few episodes of both the 90s and 2000s Flash tv show, and the Flashpoint Paradox as an animated film. I believe this new film is based on that animation so that, along with the uneven legacy of the DCEU, is what I bring to this new Flash movie (perhaps the last of the old DCEU… or not? Maybe? Who knows?).

Ezra Miller returns as the speedster superhero Barry Allen: The Flash. He randomly discovers (or rediscovers) that he can run so fast he can travel back in time. In an attempt to save his murdered mom, he does so… and winds up Back to the Future 2ing the universe. Can he work with a younger version of himself plus some returning DC heroes to fix the timeline?

As usual, the DC Extended Universe tries to jump to the head of the line without doing the legwork. This film is a celebration of the DCEU’s past as well as the history of DC characters on film in general. But its also an exploration of Barry Allen’s past… which would have been far, far, FAR cooler had we ever actually seen it on screen. But, no… we’re told how much this matters to him and Ezra Miller is a good enough actor to sell the drama, but there should have been a stand-alone Flash movie or two before this film.

As far as celebrating past films that were actually made, it does a pretty good job. The plot weaves in and out of at least one of the major DCEU films while bringing in a previous Batman character and a variation on Superman (this is all over the trailers but I’ll leave it at that… it’d sure have been cooler if I hadn’t known these details).

The plot also weaves in cameos from past non-DCEU DC characters, including some from long dead actors. Between that and the returning iconography, props and sets, the movie really, really, really wants to hang out with the likes of Spiderman: No Way Home, Into/Across the Spiderverse, and Avengers: Infinity War. The use of such nostalgia is pretty heavy handed though… not unwelcome but certainly designed for the megafan. Does it work for people not in the know? Probably not since it’s so weighed down by these references… but, then again, Infinity War wouldn’t have either (the only difference being, Marvel had done ten years of legwork… The Flash borrows, cribs, and cheats its way in).

But is any of it actually any good? Well, the film gets off to a rocky start with some pretty mediocre special effects. But it gets better… and then it gets a little soggy, and then it gets better… and then a little messy. It’s a very uneven film that, ultimately, winds up with enough good points that I’m giving it a pretty good review. But it sure was racing hard against me.

So a pretty fun time at the movies… and the more of a megafan you are, the more you’ll enjoy it (or roll your eyes at the excess). Non-fans will probably get something out of it too but not nearly as much. It’s a pretty good film and a decent attempt at celebrating the uneven DCEU.

Score: 82