BLACK ADAM: Electrifying Blockbuster Fun With Pacing Issues

While DC continuously changes its structure behind the scenes, a project fifteen years in the making finally arrives in theaters. And Jaume Collet-Serra‘s Black Adam is full of charismatic action, although time will tell if the studio is actually headed in the right direction this time. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson leads a fun cast who have enough charm to carry what would otherwise be a generic super hero outing, but the film successfully manages to keep the world-threatening stakes personal enough to make the characters worth caring for. An ancient, powerful being has been unleashed in the DC Extended Universe, with an origin story made to be enjoyed with the biggest popcorn bucket you can find.

The Rock Didn’t Come to Play

While the movie was trapped in development hell for the better part of two decades, Dwayne Johnson remained proud of the vision he and Warner Bros. had for this story. The result is not as earth-shattering as promised, but the performance delivered by the lead star demonstrates how much he cared about portraying Teth-Adam on the big screen. Plenty of Johnson‘s characters appear to have the same personality across his filmography, but in this instance an effort for this anti-hero to stand out from the rest of the smoldering bike riders can be perceived.

Almost three thousand years ago, Teth-Adam is a slave in the nation of Kahndaq. After his son, Kurut, (Jalon Christian) transfers the power of Shazam (yes, as in, Zachary Levi‘s Shazam) to him in order to save his life, Adam is forced to watch his only child die in his arms, prompting him to level the city in search of revenge. This forces the wizards who grant these powers to imprison him due to considering his bloodthirst unworthy. In the present, after a heist goes wrong inside the ruins of the temple where he was banished , Teth-Adam sees the light of day once again.

The Rock portrays Adam with an unfamiliar gravity. It was interesting to see the actor lean into a more serene presence on-screen. The character doesn’t need to look at the camera and remind us how powerful he is, that is rather proven with his actions. And, with a very good notion of how someone who has possessed such abilities for a long time might carry himself, Johnson plays Adam wreaking havoc with the mundane attitude of someone walking their dog.

The Humor Doesn’t Overstay its Welcome

The first two acts of Black Adam didn’t have the right to be as amusing as they are. Adam is able to roam through the streets of Kahndaq for the first time in millennia, and he will do his best to understand how humanity has changed since then. A fish out of water routine for characters who jump across big periods of time can get exhausting relatively quickly. But in this case, the movie doesn’t dumb Adam down and the humor shines because he can understand most of what he sees, he simply doesn’t care as long as it doesn’t help him bring honor to his home.

Aldis Hodges’ Hawkman is the highlight of the Justice Society of America, a team of super heroes who have existed in the DCEU for a very long time, but are only now appearing, being mentioned or making themselves useful. Sketchy introductions aside, the Society is only there to make Adam look better but thankfully, they are not thrown under the bus. Whether they are the anti-hero’s punching bags or allies, the JSA keep Teth-Adam with his feet on the ground (even though he adores to hover randomly throughout the film to remind us that he can fly).  Thankfully, Noah Centineo‘s Atom Smasher functions as a way more likable version of Deadpool, and his heavy-handedness can attributed to his youth and lack of experience, instead of acting that way due to having an annoying personality.

But it is Bodhi Sabongui‘s character, Amon Tomaz, who has the best dynamic with Johnson‘s electrifying protagonist. Amon is the young son of a university professor who happens to help Adam and the JSA in their quest for an ancient relic. Since he is a huge fan of superheroes (DC super heroes, of course), he is more than thrilled to get to know Adam and show him the ropes regarding super-powered individual etiquette. The two share very humorous back-and-forths and Adam protecting the boy and learning pop culture through him becomes more engaging than saving the planet from absolute destruction.

Fair Warning: There’s a Messy Third Act

The point where this narrative closes its second act would’ve been a perfect spot to roll the credits on any other action movie, which is why it was so surprising to find out that the runtime still had a long way to go. The true villain of the movie is reintroduced in his final from, and it is up to the JSA and Adam to stop him. When the final battle feels like a tediously long epilogue, the pacing issues become evident. You want the heroes to win not to prevent the bad guy from obliterating Earth, but to be able to leave your seat.

Nevertheless, a bloated conclusion doesn’t take away from the fact that two-thirds of this adventure is pure blockbuster entertainment, with enough explosions, mid-air punches, and laughs to keep wanting more. With a different structure and an extra script revision, this could’ve been a great superhero movie, instead of one that wasn’t terrible. Some of the sparks resembling the deal breaker that The Rock and Warner Bros. are there, but the potential is never reached.

The personal stakes are once again highlighted as the core of the movie because when it’s time to stop the giant McGuffin during the third act, the story changes its direction is a questionable manner. Pacing issues aside, we’re not dealing with a climax that spoils the rest of the narrative. Honestly, it wouldn’t be a modern superhero film without earth-shattering punches while everyone is surrounded by raging fire.

Conclusion: Black Adam

Amusing humor and a very entertaining performance from The Rock consolidate Black Adam as one of the strongest DCEU outings. The film earns its blockbuster status with the kind of explosive action and a fast pace that are best experienced on the biggest screen possible. A convoluted third act doesn’t take away the fun from the first two-thirds of the film, and the portrayal of Tether-Adam is different enough from the rest of the characters Dwayne Johnson has played to keep you invested while you get to know DC’s newest anti-hero.

Have you seen Black Adam? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Black Adam was released in theaters on October 21st, 2022!

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