The Flash Star Calls Out Movie’s IQ Drop: ‘Good Call!’ Says Tom Cavanagh

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A somewhat unexpected supporter of the 2023’s debated ‘The Flash’ film has surfaced in Tom Cavanagh, a longtime actor who spent close to a decade embodying various iterations of Harrison Wells and the antagonistic Reverse-Flash in The CW’s portrayal of the Scarlet Speedster. Speaking at Fan Expo Portland (through MrHistorican), Cavanagh shared an intriguing viewpoint on the film that left critics divided and saw it underperform at the box office, grossing only $271.4 million globally against its $200 million production budget. Given his experience playing both the heroic Harrison Wells and villainous Reverse-Flash within The CW’s Arrowverse, Cavanagh’s insights on ‘The Flash’ movie are especially significant.

1) “Cavanagh excitedly stated during the convention, ‘I indeed saw it! I really liked it!'” This shows his appreciation for what they did in that movie’s first half, especially considering he’s a fan of Grant Gustin as The Flash on TV.” This praise from someone closely tied to another portrayal of the character underscores how multiple interpretations of superheroes can peacefully coexist.

Cavanagh commended the unique creative decisions made in the Flash movie, which set it apart from its TV counterpart. He particularly appreciated the less intellectual portrayal of the character, stating, “They seemed to have lowered his IQ, and I thought that was effective.” He continued by saying, “Yes, they intentionally did this, and I believe it will make The Flash appear more innocent and distinct. Brilliant move!” The movie’s version of The Flash is noticeably different from Gustin’s portrayal in the TV series, with Miller playing a more light-hearted and humorous take on the hero. Cavanagh further highlighted this difference by commenting, “You don’t want to replicate what an actor did for a decade on television.

The Flash’s Live-Action Journey on TV and Film

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Initially, The CW’s “The Flash” debuted to great fanfare, attracting 4.62 million viewers and becoming the network’s top-rated show. During its early seasons, it received high praise for Grant Gustin’s acting and its ability to blend comic book elements with character-focused narratives. Over time, much like other long-lasting series, its viewership gradually decreased, ultimately averaging 860,000 viewers in its final season.

As a movie critic, I found the cinematic rendition of this tale to veer significantly from the source material, with an unexpected emphasis on cameo appearances that were undeniably captivating. During interviews, director Cavanagh highlighted the film’s marketing strategy surrounding these surprise guests, remarking that the moment Keaton appeared on screen – brace yourself for a spoiler! – it was nothing short of jaw-dropping. If you take a peek at the DVD cover of The Flash, you’ll notice Batman gracing its cover, hinting at something intriguing.

Alas, even the enigmatic Batman couldn’t rescue The Flash from financial woes. On release, the film garnered a 70% “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and acclaim for Miller’s heartfelt performance. However, the ambitious aspects of the movie, such as its multiverse narrative and extensive use of visual effects, elicited mixed reactions from viewers.

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It seems that we’ll have to wait a bit longer for another live-action portrayal of the Scarlet Speedster. DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has stated that they are temporarily pausing development on any Flash-related projects within the DC Universe, possibly to distance themselves from the less-than-positive response to the 2023 movie.

Right now, you can stream “The Flash” TV series from The CW on Netflix. On the other hand, you can catch the “The Flash” movie on Max.

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2025-01-29 13:40