Dwayne Johnson reunites with his Jungle Cruise director Jaume Cillect-Serra to bring a DC Comic anti-hero to the big screen in Warner Bros. Pictures, Black Adam. Handling the script duties, we have Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani.
Nearly 5,000 years ago, a slave (Dwayne Johnson) was given magical powers by the wizard Shazam. After using his gifts for evil purposes, the man was imprisoned for centuries. Now he’s about to finally be released at the hands of Adrianna Tommaz (Sarah Shahi). Meanwhile, Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) has sent the Justice Society with Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), and Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) to neutralize Adam.
My review for Black Adam isn’t going to be a long one. I will try my darnedest not to spoil the film. However, there is no point in spoiling it since it has a pedestrian plot that you can predict well ahead of time. In contrast to 2019’s Shazam, which relied on Zachary Levi’s comedic timing, Black Adam attempts to do something different with its grim tone. While the film carries a PG-13 rating, Dwayne Johnson has a body count in the movie that would make Jason Voorhees proud.
Since making his debut in The Mummy Returns, we know what to expect when seeing Dwayne Johnson on screen. I’ll give him credit for showing some range in Be Cool and Southland Tales. Then again, Dwayne knows he has charisma, so even if it’s a terrible movie, he has a delightful time in the role. As Black Adam, Dwayne has the chance to quip one-liners while the audience enjoys popcorn.
That said, Dwayne allows others in the cast to shine, particularly Aldis Hodge and Pierce Brosnan. With their lively banter, these two nearly steal the movie from Dwayne. I’m going to need an animated sequel in the style of Lethal Weapon for the characters ASAP, as I enjoyed them immensely. The remaining cast members essentially fall into character templates which is fine as we are in a rebuilding phase for the DC Cinematic universe.
To put it simply, Black Adam is an old-school concoction of massive destruction and impressive CGI. We see Dwayne Johnson dodge bullets, catch a missile in his hand, and fling helicopters with casual disdain. While Black Adam doesn’t come close to the glory days of the MCU, it does steer the DCU in the right direction.
Final Grade: B
Black Adam is in theaters now.
Iraq War Veteran Ray Mendoza reunites with director Alex Garland for another war film, Warfare, from A24. Mendoza and Garland also co-wrote the movie based on Mendoza’s experiences during the Iraq War as a former U.S. Navy SEAL. Set in 2006 and shot in real-time, Warfare follows a platoon of Navy SEALs on a mission through the insurgent territory.
Director Tracie Laymon examines the significance of friendship in her latest film, Bob Trevino Likes It, produced by Roadside Attractions. Laymon also authored the screenplay, which draws inspiration from a genuine friendship she cultivated with a stranger while conducting an online search for her father.
Director Alex Scharfman delivers a unique film for his debut in Death of a Unicorn from A24. Elliot (Paul Ridd) is a lawyer headed to a weekend retreat looking to close a big deal for his billionaire bosses Odell (Richard E. Grant) and Belinda (Téa Leoni). Along for the ride is his college-aged daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega), with whom he’s looking to reconnect following the death of their matriarch and before she leaves for college.