Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson is the latest DC film to hit theatres that does a good job of presenting an exciting future for the DC universe. The action-packed flick is filled with several interesting set pieces with jaw-dropping visuals that are sure to keep the audience entertained.
It’s been a long time since Warner Bros. first embraced the original notion of portraying Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a terrifying Superman counterpart called Black Adam. In fact, rumours of the actor playing Black Adam, have been circulating the internet for almost a decade. For The Rock’s long-awaited superhero debut, it’s difficult to imagine a better casting choice; he brings so much to the part that it seems unlikely the movie would have been created if he had declined.
The visual element of the film seems to have received more attention from director Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax, Orphan) which left the story feeling repetitive and predictable. Considering that the film introduced the new Justice Society, this concept was barely fleshed out.
The Justice Society’s treatment by Black Adam also seems indicative of Warner Bros. and DC Comics attempts to imitate Disney and Marvel’s success with their different superhero team-ups without providing the necessary groundwork for viewers to feel engaged in the outcomes of these characters.
Pierce Brosnan as Dr Fate is a joy, while Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam is the ideal choice to play the brooding dark hero. Smasher, played by Noah Centineo, provides a small amount of comic relief, particularly when he interacts with Hawkman, but his developing friendship with Cyclone doesn’t add much. Adrianna Tomaz, the professor and rebel leader, is superbly portrayed by Sarah Shahi.
Black Adam, despite its obvious shortcomings, is very entertaining, and the frantic set pieces, which account for a sizable chunk of the running time, are executed to perfection. There aren’t much pre-movie reading or watching tasks necessary to fully appreciate the plot twists, and the mid-credits moment is practically sure to drive fans into a froth of delighted incoherence.
Even though the plot of this Shazam spin-off is quite well-known, it manages to keep you entertained as a stand-alone movie. In the end, Black Adam is a harmless addition to the flawed DC Extended Universe since its predictable plot does not become overly dark or agonisingly long.
Final Verdict: 3.2 stars (out of 5)