The Flash: A Disappointing Reception
The Flash’s mixed critical reception is perhaps the most disappointing outcome for DC fans hoping for a strong conclusion to its cinematic universe. It’s no secret that critical reception heavily influences audience decisions, and The Flash’s figures reflect the fallen titan status of the DCEU. A clashing reception from critics and audiences alike renders The Flash flat, failing to deliver a signature standout moment for the franchise.Although the box office success of Shazam! serves as a testament to the general public’s ongoing interest in DC films, there’s no denying that The Flash reflects the DCEU’s lowest ebb. Critics play a significant role in defining the DC universe’s legacy, and The Flash’s existing Rotten Tomatoes scores suggest a film resigned to subpar ratings.
Out of a possible 100%, The Flash earned a mediocre six out of ten, with 70% of critics giving it a “Fresh” rating. That’s not an encouraging sign, although audiences seem more forgiving, with a near-95% positive audience score.
The Flash: Falling Behind Other DCEU Films
Whereas previous DCEU films embraced the dark side of comic book adaptation, positioning themselves as crowd-pleasers rather than critical darlings, The Flash feels more like a callback to the early 2000s notion of a superhero film – something that director Rick Famuyiwa comments on. From the trailers, The Flash appears to look and feel a lot like a hero film from that era, and that sentiment is echoed in Metacritic’s six out of ten score.
Perhaps most frustratingly, that score places The Flash below entries like Aquaman and Shazam!, despite belonging to the extensive list of critically panned DCEU films. That corroborates the notion that The Flash represents the last gasps of the DCEU, and arguably, of the studio’s intention to make enduring cinematic universes.
Regardless of whether or not one agrees with the critical consensus, there’s no denying that the modest commercial success of The Flash encapsulates the fallen titan status of the DCEU. Never particularly critically revered, the cinematic universe embodied the essence of a fallen hero, reflecting the studio’s struggle to leave any lasting impact that transcends action and spectacle.
Comparing The Flash to Other DCEU Films
In contrast, films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and The Suicide Squad were among the most talked-about, albeit for vastly different reasons. No matter how one feels about Batman being manipulated by unforeseen consequences resulting from a presidential conflict, there’s no denying that Dawn of Justice is a genre-defining disaster with a low 29% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Suicide Squad, under James Gunn’s direction, was bold, enjoyable, and earned a 90% score. It represented the polar opposite of what The Flash represents – it was confident, unapologetic, and defiant.
The Flash, however, elicits more tepid reactions. The film heavily leans on nostalgia, incorporating plenty of callbacks and references to other Warner Bros. IPs in order to channel the essence of the DC universe. This sort of approach could be considered hit-and-miss, as fans and critics gravitate toward films with a stronger sense of creative identity.
Nonetheless, The Flash represents the last gasp of the DCEU, ushering in the new DCU era under James Gunn’s leadership. The film heavily represents every idea and reference the studio executives could think of, resulting in an overstuffed film that feels considerably impersonal. The Flash is nothing more than an assembly of prior works within the DC universe, resulting in a movie that feels distinct from all prior DCEU films.
A Mediocre Send-off
With lackluster critical reception reflecting the fallen titan status of the DCEU, The Flash fails to provide a memorable send-off for the franchise. Instead, it settles for a mediocre six out of ten rating, which feels like an apt reflection of DC’s cinematic universe until now.
