Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Written by: Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, Sohrab Noshirvani
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Pierce Brosnan
Black Adam, where do I begin?
This is the 11th film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), a universe that includes Justice League; Suicide Squad; The Suicide Squad; and Man of Steel. If you are a fan of this franchise, then you may know that many of these films suffer from poor storylines, uneven pacing, and constant negative media attention due to its staff behavior (see Ezra Miller & Joss Whedon).
Often DCEU projects are canceled, retooled, or shelved last minute (see Batgirl). So in light of all of this, I had very low hopes for this film and honestly, I don’t really expect any story threads to stick (see Justice League: The Snyder Cut & DCEU’s Joker ). With all of this in mind, I think Black Adam is the best thing DCEU has done. Yup I said it, and maybe one and a half people will agree with me.
Black Adam has an extremely likable cast and allows itself to have fun while solving the DCEU’s main problem . . . pacing and tone. Director Jaume Collet-Serra seems to have mastered the art of the “fun popcorn flick.” Given that Jaume has directed other films such as Jungle Cruise, House of Wax, Orphan, and The Shallows.
While Black Adam’s plot is very minimal, the film features a cast that keeps viewers interested during its whole two-hour runtime. In my screening, I heard even those who disliked the movie say, “It kept me entertained the whole time.” Set in the fictional city of Kahndaq, the city has faced hostile takeover after hostile takeover since its former ruler “Teth Adam” vanished.
In Black Adam, we follow characters Adrianna Tomaz and her son Amon. Adrianna is a member of a resistance group who is trying to retrieve an ancient Kahndaq relic. Her team’s goal is to keep this relic out of the hands of an insurgent group (Intergang) that has taken over her city. This mission pretty much is the plot of the whole film and keeps things simple to follow.
What ensues from that point on is action set piece after action set piece. As an audience member, I honestly couldn’t tell if there was more punching or lines of dialogue. But in all honesty, that is why I came to see this “action” movie, I wanted to see action!
Black Adam delivers on the action and adds an element of untamed violence that I feel a lot of (PG-13) superhero films lack or shy away from. For this reason, I was pleasantly surprised by Black Adam and applaud its directors and writers. There are some scenes where audience members audibly said “oh shit” or “no way” which again I feel is a testament to the fresh take Black Adam has on the Superhero genre.
Where the film may lack in story, I feel it delivers by presenting strong special effects and great casting. Black Adam also takes time to introduce the Justice Society of America (JSA) who are presented as foils to Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam. Or as Dwanye Johnson would say “The hierarchy in the DCEU is about to change.” Where the JSA is seeking justice, Black Adam seems to be evening the score. If you try to kill him, he will try (and mostly succeeds) in returning that favor.
Amongst the cast, the standout is Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan plays Doctor Fate who is an aging sorcerer who holds the “Helmet of Fate.” With both his powers and the helmet, Doctor Fate can see the future and change certain elements of reality. Brosnan plays this character with the swagger of 007 and the charm of a polite College Professor.
Most of the plot progresses thanks to his character’s insight and I think many will leave this film remembering his performance. The cast is really well-rounded and each actor holds their own as Black Adam showcases both comedic and serious scenes. I feel as though many superhero films are unable to reel in the humor and tell a story as of late. However, in this department, Black Adam does a decent job.
Packed with great performances, fun cameos, and a whole lot of action I think Black Adam is a great family popcorn flick!
