Compared to most of the DC universe films, "The Flash" is on the better end of the spectrum. Unfortunately, "better" does not mean amazing. Despite a promising premise and some stellar work put in by Michael Keaton, "The Flash" doesn't live up to its potential.

Using the iconic Flashpoint comic storyline as inspiration, "The Flash" focuses on Barry Allen's (Ezra Miller) attempt to go back in time and save his mother's life. Doing so causes unintended consequences, and Barry ends up in an alternate future with no Superman to oppose General Zod as he invades Earth.

The premise of saving a loved one versus risking the lives of others is not a new idea. It's one that's been done many times before (including in the current Spider-Verse film), but it relies heavily on the main character being able to carry the weight of the choice on their shoulders. That's an area where Miller has trouble.

Miller plays the Flash (both versions) as somewhat self-absorbed and never focusing on the lives of others. An early scene, where he is discussing the possibility of going back in time with Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck), illustrates this well. Miller's Flash just wants the reward, while Affleck's Wayne expresses both the pain of losing his parents and the realization that it's not something that he should change, even if he could, with a mere look.

Of course, Barry doesn't listen to Bruce and ends up in the past. His mom is alive, but another version of himself is also present. The two Barrys don't know what to do, so they reach out to Batman for help. Given his prominent placement in the trailers, it's not a spoiler to say that Michael Keaton reprises his role as Batman in this reality. He's also the highlight of the film.

Keaton's Batman is jaded and disinterested at first, but he eventually agrees to help the Barrys due to the larger threat of Zod. From his first introduction as a disheveled Bruce Wayne, to explaining the movie's own theory of time travel, to putting on the suit, Keaton nails every minute. It's like he stepped right out of 1989, ready to throw down.

The movie wisely taps into the nostalgia of the old Batman films, showing us the Tim Burton-styled Batmobile, reusing the theme motif, and even using a classic line or two. It doesn't overdo it and lets the bulk of the character rest on Keaton's shoulders. Walking out of "The Flash," I was ready for a new, full film featuring Keaton's Batman.

The other surprise, though woefully underused, was Sasha Calle's Supergirl. This is not the Supergirl we know from the past films, the TV show, or the comics. Calle's Supergirl is harsh and somewhat cold, due to her circumstances, but she still believes in doing the right thing. She doesn't pull any punches while doing it. Seeing a fresh take on a classic character was another highlight of the film.

As good as both were, neither Keaton nor Calle could carry the entire film. That was Miller's responsibility, and he couldn't pull it off. Even in the more dramatic moments, there was a bit of a disconnect, with Miller looking like he was going through the motions rather than living the life of his character.

Another aspect where the film suffers is in the visual effects. What's here looks rushed and underbudgeted, which is a surprise given the movie's extensive development timeline. For example, the opening scene features the Flash rescuing babies from a hospital, and those are the most CGI-looking babies you'll ever see. An Unreal Engine-based video game could probably generate more realistic-looking virtual babies in real time than what we saw on-screen.

This also extends to Supergirl's fight sequences. When Calle is performing the fight choreography, it looks good, but when she's sped up and moving at super speed, it looks off. There is something decidedly artificial about some of her movements, which is very much a visual effects artifact.

As an adaptation of Flashpoint, the CW TV show did a better job than "The Flash." As a stand-alone superhero film, "The Flash" is an entertaining way to kill time, but it's probably not worth a special trip to the theater. Save this one for when you have a lazy afternoon, and it happens to be available on one of your streaming services.

Score: 6.0/10

"The Flash" is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 2 hours and 23 minutes. It is showing in standard theaters and in IMAX.