Hawkman (Aldice Hodge): “We only use force when necessary!”
Teth-Adam (Dwayne Johnson): “Force is always necessary.”
If there is a coherent theme in this trope-heavy super-hero addition to the DC universe, it might be that force is a necessary component, even for freedom fighters, to secure peace for a suppressed people. Tell it to Ukraine, which is valiantly opposing being occupied by Russia through arms supplied by allies and spirit by their fundamentally heroic lineage.
The film is Black Adam, and its titular antihero, (a central character who does not display usual heroic attributes, often the opposite) Teth-Adam, is played by the world’s highest-paid actor, Dwayne Johnson. Although this actioner has every possible trope of heroic films, be they Marvel or DC, and more explosions than even those in Thor, it tries mightily to stand out with its dialectic about the use of force, even by the good guys, to set people free.
Because Kahndaq (a fictional Mid-Eastern country) has been occupied for years by mercenaries named Intergang, it embraces antihero Black Adam. The way he brutally dispatches enemies in the early part of the film shows the rage that got him in trouble millennia ago. He reminds us one too many times, “I’m not a hero.”
He has been buried for almost 5000 years, having believed that arms solve problems, win wars, and bring peace. The audience can agree to some extent if only nodding to the wars of the 20th century.
Black Adam, formerly a slave, was bestowed the almighty powers of Egyptian gods including speed, strength, flying, and lightning before he was buried as a result of his rage. He now begrudgingly joins forces with the Justice Society of America, a squad dedicated to beating the Intergang: Hawkman (think Professor X) working out of a high-tech mansion, sorcerer Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan, think Dr. Strange), shape-shifter Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo, think Hulk), and Cyclone (a human tornado played by trans Quintessa Swindell).
Initially they have a rough time with the mighty Adam.
As you can tell, already too many interesting possibilities that people this adventure with, even at over two hours, not enough time to create character arcs, especially for Johnson, who has little chance to drop sarcastic lines or flash his celebrated smile.
It’s almost as if this sci-fi fantasy is setting up a muscular crew to go nose to nose with the far more engaging Marvel heroes (the need to bring aboard Superman becomes obvious because as Black Adam is written, even Johnson doesn’t have enough charm to carry the film against the box-office behemoth, MCU).
Also, this film would like to align with Clint Eastwood’s heroic Man with No Name, as a snippet appears on a TV set. No way. Adam is a new kind of hero, both good and bad, and the film does a heroic job aligning with current world crises and heroes, even presidents, who aren’t easily fitted into conventional heroic norms.
In the end, not enough of Johnson’s irony and smile, but they’re there among some stunning CGI and potentially interesting characters. Black Adam almost feels like summer blockbusting time. Not.
Hawkman: “In this world, there are heroes and there are villains. Heroes don't kill people!”
Teth-Adam: “Well, I do.”
Black Adam
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra (Jungle Cruise)
Screenplay: Adam Sztykiel (Rampage), et al.
Cast: Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji)
Run Time: 2h 4m
Rating: PG-13
John DeSando, a Los Angeles Press Club first-place winner for National Entertainment Journalism, hosts NPR’s It’s Movie Time and co-hosts Cinema Classics as well as podcasts Back Talk and Double Take out of WCBE 90.5 FM. Contact him at JohnDeSando52@gmail.com
