While The Flash has been a popular name in the comic book world for decades, adaptations of the character have been few and far between. Going back to the late 1980s when Jeph Loeb was tasked to write a screenplay to 2004 when David S. Goyer was set to write/direct/produce a film, the character adaptation found little to no success on the big screen but did find a space in both the animated movie and television arenas.

Despite the success on the small screen, dreams of a silver screen adaptation remained, and the commencement of the DCEU in 2013 led to a film announcement for 2016. As you can see by the date of this review, the film did not release in 2016, and due to changes in directors and numerous issues with the film’s star, the film ultimately hit the big screen ten years after the debut of the DCEU and coincidentally a month after the series finale of The Flash TV show.

After the film’s “debut” at CinemaCon to a rapturous response, there was no doubt my excitement for the film’s release increased with the praise for not just the film but the return of the most excellent Batman of all time, Academy Award nominee Michael Keaton. The question of quality was met with another question following my screening.

What if Back to the Future Part II met the DC Universe? Director Andy Muschietti’s The Flash answers that question with a nostalgic journey filled with stunning action, emotional stakes, heart, humor, and universe-bending time travel. At its core, The Flash is a film that exudes the aura of the past, channeling its predecessors, Superman ’78 and Batman ’89.

The Flash follows, you guessed it, Barry Allen as he travels back in time to prevent his mother’s death. As cinephiles have been told through every time travel feature, don’t mess with the past, as you’re doomed to change the future you return to. As Barry turns the universe upside down, he enlists his Barry Allen counterpart, Supergirl, and of course, Batman, to reshape and return the multiverse to its proper time.

With the increase of multiverse films in the genre, they’ve been critiqued as a lazy de facto trope in writing a screenplay. However, Christina Hodson’s script uses the multiverse not as a crutch but as a crucial storyline aspect where she examines the consequences of past life events. Challenging the audience to examine what choice they would make if given the same option and fully understanding that while full of sadness, these events are life-altering in the direction that make us ultimately become individuals. It’s hard to rope a dope by adding depth to the film’s screenplay while effectively incorporating fan service, and Hodson’s screenplay hits both wonderfully.

Along with Hodson’s screenplay, Andy Muschietti’s direction is confident and impressive. I’ve always been a fan of his work going back to the days of Mama and 2017’s IT: Chapter One, and with The Flash, Muschietti’s growth as a director is evident.

The Flash’s performances are top notch as Ezra Miller’s dual performance is noteworthy as he balances the quirkiness of an 18-year-old Barry with the “grizzled vet” Barry to deliver an effectively comedic and emotional take. Sasha Calle is sensational as Kara as she evokes the fierceness of Supergirl and offers an intense persona that gives individuality to her Supergirl while removing comparisons from other iterations.

When it comes to my personal MVP of the film, it’s Michael Keaton. As a lifelong fan of Batman ’89 and Batman Returns, I never fathomed a day when I would see Keaton don the cowl once more, and his return sparked a tear from my eye. It’s a glorified cameo and a performance that shows why he’s the GOAT. The perfect blend of both Bruce Wayne and Batman, Keaton’s charisma and charm remain as he maneuvers through his internal turmoil as Bruce while never moving away from the heroic demeanor of Batman. It’s a performance to go nuts for.

Yes, the CGI/VFX is a detriment to the film’s third act, but it doesn’t remove the awe of the surprises awaiting cinephiles in its final act. While the comparisons to No Way Home will be there, the surprises The Flash pulls off will have audiences talking for quite a while.

While The Flash is not the most excellent comic book film of all time, as some early reactions hailed it, it’s a film that stands as one of my favorites of the year. One that channels the excitement and adventure that led many to pick up a comic book when they were kids and be in awe of seeing a man fly for the first time or utter two words, “I’m Batman.” The utter joy The Flash gave me is the universe I want to live in permanently.