Make no mistake Black Adam is a film rife with problems, but there’s still promise thanks to the performances and action sequences.
Teth Adam returns after a 5,000-year prison sentence. The brand of justice Teth enacts runs against the “no killing” rule Hawkman believes in. What follows is a film where Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Cyclone and last and certainly the least Atom Smasher fight Teth until a new enemy emerges.
Dwayne Johnson is fantastic as Teth Adam. Aldis Hodge oozes charisma as Hawkman. Pierce Brosnan does his best to steal the film. These three performances carry the film in spite of the lack of depth in the script. Black Adam is a violent film and watching Johnson portray a character who is treated as a villain for most of the film is a blast.
The plot is all over the place, the characters are shallow, and the villain is atrocious. Only Teth receives any sort of character depth. The other characters they focus on are a mother and a son, who serve as the film’s reason for the heroes to come together. Sarah Shahi is fine as Adrianna Tomaz. The same can’t be said for her son Amon. This is one of the flattest teenage performances I’ve seen in a long time.
I was pleasantly surprised by Johnson and Director Jaume Collet-Serra‘s last film Jungle Cruise. Collet-Sera did a great job creating a world to get lost in with Jungle Cruise. In Black Adam, he does a good job in the action sequences. However, he never slows the film down long enough for any real character development outside of Adam.
There’s plenty of promise with these characters. Hopefully, Johnson and Hodge get a better script next time. In 2022, superhero films shouldn’t feature supporting characters who are this thinly drawn and villains who are this disposable.
With the overview out of the way, let’s take a deeper journey into this new era of the DCEU. There may be some minor spoilers. Black Adam is in theaters now.
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No hero
Teth makes it clear repeatedly he’s no hero. Black Adam flashes back to Kahndaq several times throughout the film. Adam wasn’t Kahndaq’s hero. His son was. After seeing Adam on the brink of death, Adam’s son passes the power to Adam.
He’s injured when a rocket made of Eternium explodes. He wakes up at Adrianna’s apartment in her son, Amon’s, bedroom. The story tries to make Amon the heart of the film and utterly fails. None of the scenes featuring Amon work at all.
Adam loses control of his powers and is imprisoned by the wizards. Adrianna wakes Adam when her brother is in danger. Adam proceeds to kill the Intergang mercenaries without hesitation.
Johnson does a terrific job of showing Adam’s discomfort. Yes, he’s a man from a different time. However, the way he looks at the statue of himself is a look of disappointment.
The JSA vs Black Adam
Carter Hall aka Hawkman watches Adam wake up and tear through the mercenaries from his Louisiana estate. Amanda Waller, once again played by Viola Davis, assigns the task of imprisoning Adam to the JSA.
Black Adam quickly introduces the other members. Dr. Fate and Hawkman have worked together before. The other members, Cyclone and Atom Smasher, are the newbies on the team. Cyclone at least explains her origin story. Atom Smasher’s powers are literally passed down from his grandfather played by Henry Winkler. The film tries to set up a romantic connection, but there’s nothing to it. These character introductions are literally the only insight we get into these characters.
In the comics, Hawkman is cursed to die to over-and-over again. Black Adam doesn’t touch that element of the character at all. Hodge does what he can to portray the prideful arrogance in Carter. His black-and-white approach to justice contrasts nicely with Adam’s. The scenes with Johnson and Hodge as well as Hodge and Brosnan have plenty of electricity, but all of the other character interactions fail to elicit a single spark.
The film touches on an interesting element of superhero teams. Until Adam’s reemergence, the JSA ignored the mercenaries who controlled Kahndaq. It’s an interesting moral ground, but Black Adam isn’t really equipped from a writing standpoint to tell that story.
The depths of hell
The JSA may feature shallow characterization, but they’re leagues better than this terrible villain. Marwan Kenzari was terrific in 2019’s Aladdin as Jafar, but he overcooks every scene in Black Adam.
From the moment he speaks in Black Adam, you know he’s the villain. Like Adam, his ancestors are from Kahndaq. He believes it’s his birthright to rule over the kingdom.
In addition to a battle over conflicting ideals, there’s also a MacGuffin. There’s a crown of Eternium that can grant the wearer immense power. When the villain inevitably gets this crown, he brings hell to earth.
There’s nothing good about this villain. He’s not funny or particularly intelligent. He’s very much the type of villain you throw in to allow the JSA and Adam to join forces. Making matters worse the final battle is easily the weakest action sequence in the film.
Black Adam Final Thoughts
There are simply too many characters and plot points for Black Adam to coalesce. The performances and action sequences are strong enough to enjoy Black Adam. Just try not to think too much and let’s never bring up Sabboc ever again.
The Review
Black Adam
PROS
- The performances by Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge and Pierce Brosnan are terrific.
- The characterization of Black Adam as an anti-hero is well done.
- Action sequences are fantastic.
CONS
- The worst villain in a superhero film since Venom.
- Outside of Adam, none of the characters have any depth at all.
- Bodhi Sabongui's flat performance as Amon.
