Black Adam

Jaume Collet-Serra directs this latest DC comic book adaptation. Dwayne Johnson is Thet Adam, who has been enclosed in his tomb in Kahndaq for 5000 years. When he’s released in an act of desperation by Adrianna (Sarah Shahi) he unleashes his own dark powers. However this does not go unnoticed and alerts the justice society Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Atom Smasher(Noah Centineo), Cyclone(Quintess Swindell) and Dr Fate (Pierce Brosnan), under the leadership of Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), who dispatches them to put an end to Adam’s freedom. However in Kahndaq, the latest in a long line of oppressors the Intergang, are hunting for the crown of Sabbac, which will give the wearer unlimited power. When it is recovered by Adrianna it puts her and her son Amon (Bodhi Sabongui) in danger. This challenges Adam to become the hero, save the crown, the family and fend off the justice society while doing so.

I didn’t have high hopes for Black Adam, with DC’s record of underwhelming films and some sniffy reviews. But I enjoyed it, yes it’s a bit messy, has an unnecessary last 30 minutes and dialogue that is often a little on the nose. But that said it’s a pretty solid effort.

It helped that it avoided the superhero trap of weighing down its story with its own universe. It has very little of that and just serves up a smashy crashy bunch of superhero battles.

But beyond that it also has an interesting idea at its centre, that of whether Black Adam is an anti-hero or hero depending on a point of view.

The cast are solid, Johnson is his usual enjoyable screen presence and there is some fun, especially from Centineo’s Atom Smasher and Sarah Shahi provides the heart. The CGI looks solid enough even if it and the “super slow-mo” are overdone.

Black Adam is not perfect, but for all its sniffy reviews, I enjoyed it. The premise of whether he is a hero been based on a point of view, is an interesting nuance. Johnson is always watchable and If you just want smash and crash superhero fun then you may find this an enjoyable couple of hours.