Film Review: Hero Or Avenger?

Black Adam is the latest superhero film and is based on the character in DC Comics. Jaume Collet-Serra directs this film, which is written by Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani. Dwayne Johnson takes on the title role and is joined by a cast which includes Aldis Hodge, Marwan Kenzari, Sarah Shahi, and Pierce Brosnan.

Black Adam is brought to the modern world after a 5000 imprisonment in his homeland known as Kahndaq. He had defeated a tyrannical king, but he sort of has anger issues to go along with his devastating superpowers. Some group known as the Justice Society of America is sent in to reign in this bad tempered, supercharged brute with powers similar to a certain Krytonian with a red cape. There are plenty of bone crushing fights between Black Adam and Hawkman. Then, someone else gets resurrected with an even worse temper and a desire to conquer. Black Adam and JSA need to set aside their hostilities and figure out how to stop an ancient force hellbent on chaos and misery for everyone in the world.

Yet again, I am left with a mixed bag of reactions to this mess of a film. Johnson is charismatic enough to make this watchable, although Black Adam does lack the actor’s usual amicable personality. It does get better, and there are times the humor that is attempted almost works. The special effects were pretty good, and some of the crazy fight scenes between the superbeings was engaging. It does become interesting because Black Adam is more motivated by revenge and rage than any actual altruistic heroism. Johnson does succeed in making Black Adam kind of a complicated fellow. Johnson seemed to have better chemistry with some of his costars than others. The dialogue wasn’t always as sharp as I would have liked. There was an ongoing deal about this quip Black Adam was trying to deliver just before dispatching an enemy. I found that gag to be more annoying than amusing.

I ended up not hating this film but wishing I could have enjoyed it a little more.