The Flash
By Sandie Angulo Chen,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Intense, long superhero adventure explores loss, teamwork.

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The Flash
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Based on 11 parent reviews
Best DC Movie I've Watched In My Opinion
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Bro this movie is fine....
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What's the Story?
THE FLASH begins with The Flash/Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) helping Batman/Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) with a catastrophic situation at a hospital and feeling like the "janitor of the Justice League." Eventually, Barry has an epiphany: He should use his superspeed to revisit the past and stop his beloved mother's death. But when he does that and then returns to the future, he ends up in an alternate timeline where another, much less awkward and more laid-back version of him exists and is still 18. While in this alternate timeline, the original Barry realizes that a familiar villain poses a threat to the other Barry's world, so he trains the younger Barry and then sets out to convince that timeline's Batman (a considerably older and retired version played by Michael Keaton), to join their cause. Together, the three attempt to find Superman but run into even more complications.
Is It Any Good?
This time-traveling, nostalgia-filled adaptation of Flashpoint is entertaining and benefits from Keaton's standout supporting performance. The two Barrys are amusing to watch, particularly because the original Barry is fairly socially awkward, while the younger Barry is somewhat spoiled and easygoing (having not been burdened by his mother's death and father's subsequent false imprisonment). The two develop a surprising chemistry as they try to track down Batman and Superman and do something that seems impossible. Three memorable female cast members also offer impactful supporting performances: Kiersey Clemons as Iris West; Maribel Verdu as Barry's mother, Nora Allen; and newcomer Sasha Calle as Kara Zor-El (aka Supergirl). But this is definitely the story of the two Barrys -- and, later, their camaraderie with Batman.
Andy Muschietti directs, based on Christina Hudson's script, which ramps up the pop-culture references and nostalgic bits. There are several jokes about how the original Barry's time travel has created a world in which all of the Brat Pack actors swapped signature movie roles. Keaton's appearance is also nostalgic, of course, and there are a host of Easter eggs and cameos that will make audiences either applaud, laugh, or roll their eyes, depending on how they feel about the sentimentality of the sequence. While Miller's two roles complement each other, it's difficult to talk about the actor without acknowledging the many accusations and criminal allegations that have been made against them. The DC Extended Universe is reportedly not going to recast the role, even though all the time travel makes the Flash an easy character to consider for that strategy. And a few of the scenes are a bit cringey to watch given the nature of the charges against Miller, but ultimately they're largely outshined by the movie's crowd-pleasing elements.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of superhero movies like The Flash. Why do you think these larger-than-life comic book characters so often enthrall viewers?
Discuss the prevalence of superhero movies featuring multiverses and alternate timelines. What are the advantages and limitations of time paradoxes?
Do you consider Barry or any of the other Justice League members to be role models? How do they demonstrate character strengths like teamwork and courage? What do they learn over the course of the movie?
Do you prefer individual superhero stories or team-based adventures? What are the pros and cons of an ensemble movie?
Has the news about star Ezra Miller's arrests, allegations, and mental health impacted your thoughts about this movie? When and why should an actor, filmmaker, or artist's personal life affect the audience's treatment of their art?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 16, 2023
- On DVD or streaming: July 18, 2023
- Cast: Ezra Miller , Sasha Calle , Michael Shannon
- Director: Andy Muschietti
- Inclusion Information: Non-Binary actors, Queer actors, Female actors, Latino actors, Female writers, Asian writers
- Studio: Warner Bros.
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Superheroes , Friendship
- Character Strengths: Courage , Perseverance , Self-control , Teamwork
- Run time: 144 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sequences of violence and action, some strong language and partial nudity
- Last updated: September 2, 2023
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