Film Review: "Black Adam" (2022).

"The world needed a hero. It got Black Adam." This is Black Adam. This superhero film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, written by Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani, and based on the DC Comics character of the same name crested by Otto Binder and C. C. Beck. It is a spin-off from Shazam! (2019) and the 11th film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Nearly five-thousand years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods—and imprisoned just as quickly—Black Adam is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.

In the early 2000s, New Line Cinema began the development of a Shazam! feature film. In 2006, Dwayne Johnson was approached about portraying Captain Marvel. By November 2007, Johnson was also interested in the film's antagonist, Black Adam. In January 2009, development on the film was placed on hold, but had begun again by April 2014 when Warner Bros. and DC began planning a slate of superhero films for its shared universe, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). That August, Johnson said he was still attached to the film but had not yet decided if he would play Captain Marvel or Black Adam. A month later, Johnson announced that he would portray Black Adam. In January 2017, following that meeting with DC's Geoff Johns, they decided to split the project into two films: Shazam! (2019) and Black Adam, with the latter starring Johnson as the title antihero. In October, Sztykiel was hired to pen the script. After the successful release of Shazam!, the film became a priority for New Line. By June 2019, Collet-Serra was hired to direct the film. In August 2020, the film was scheduled for a December 22, 2021 release date. In mid-April 2020, Johnson stated that filming had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By September, Haines and Noshirvani had written a new draft of the script. The next month, Warner Bros. adjusted their upcoming release schedule due to the pandemic, leaving Black Adam without a release date. The film was given a new July 29, 2022 release date. By early April 2021, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, Sarah Shahi, Marwan Kenzari, Quintessa Swindell, and Pierce Brosnan rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in mid August. Filming was delayed from an initial July 2020 start due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming took place in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

The film stars Johnson, Hodge, Centineo, Shahi, Kenzari, Swindell, and Brosnan. It's worth focusing your attention on Johnson's amazing, physical, and enthusiastic performance. However, the film can't be saved by Johnson's unique performance and there's so much here that doesn't work, it makes for frustrating viewing and is a complete and utter disappointment.

Ultimately it’s the script and some pretty uninspired action that left me feeling a bit deflated. Sadly a good Dwayne Johnson, Collet-Serra's edgy ambition, or even a killer mid credits scene can’t quite keep the film from disappointing.

Simon says Black Adam receives:

Also, see my reviews for Jungle Cruise and The Batman.