Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lots of bashing and smashing in disappointing DC movie.
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Black Adam
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 28 parent reviews
What's the Story?
BLACK ADAM begins 5,000 years ago, with the city of Kahndaq ruled by a tyrant who works to build a magical crown that will give him great powers. A boy sparks rebellion, and, just as the tyrant is about to don the special crown, the boy is given the powers of Shazam! to save the day. In the present day, the crown re-surfaces, and Teth-Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is summoned once again. But, rather than a hero, he appears to be a killer, dispatching everyone who tries to get in his way. The crown temporarily ends up in the hands of powerful resistance fighter Adrianna (Sarah Shahi), whose rebellious son, Amon (Bodhi Sabongui), believes that Teth-Adam can be the city's hero. Meanwhile, the Justice Society -- comprised of Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) -- has been called in to deal with what they see as a threat. But something even worse is on the horizon.
Is It Any Good?
Occasionally exploring themes of what it means to be heroic or villainous, with shades of gray in between, this superhero movie collapses into a boring bash-fest with barely any time to breathe. Like many other villain-as-protagonist movies, ranging from Venom and Morbius to Maleficent and Cruella, Black Adam takes the opportunity to explore such questions as "Who decides who the 'good guy' is?" And "Is it OK to hurt people if some good comes out of it?" Unfortunately, once the movie asks those questions, it forgets all about them as the characters whiz around the screen, hammering away at one another, as well as any solid object that happens to be in the way. In this movie, bodies and debris soar far more frequently than viewers' spirits.
It's safe to say that the majority of Black Adam's running time consists of fights, chases or battles, and sections of blocky exposition. Much is made of what's supposed to be a tender friendship between Hawkman and Dr. Fate, but we never feel this; it's only told to us through dialogue and goopy music in rare moments between punches. The same goes for a sweet friendship/romance between Cyclone and Atom Smasher; it's just too scarce and fragmented to amount to much. Even the human characters are cookie cutters, from the generic movie "kid" to the lovably comic uncle, rotund and ridiculous (though the actors playing both parts give them their all!). As far as Black Adam goes, those who enjoy The Rock's comedic chops and charismatic smirk may be surprised to encounter an antihero who's stoic in the face of loss and trauma. Unfortunately, though, viewers never really learn who he is or what he wants to be, and that question is ultimately less intriguing than it is uninteresting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Black Adam's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What's interesting, useful, or entertaining about a movie centered on a character who's usually depicted as a villain?
In your opinion, what does define "good" and "evil"? Where does Black Adam fall into this scale? Do violent means justify peaceful ends?
How does the representation in the cast of this movie compare to other superhero films you've seen? Why is positive representation important in the media?
What's the appeal of superhero movies? Are superheroes automatically role models? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 21, 2022
- On DVD or streaming: December 5, 2022
- Cast: Dwayne Johnson , Sarah Shahi , Aldis Hodge
- Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
- Inclusion Information: Black actors, Polynesian/Pacific Islander actors, Female actors, Middle Eastern/North African actors, Middle Eastern/North African writers
- Studio: New Line Cinema
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Superheroes
- Run time: 124 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: sequences of strong violence, intense action and some language
- Last updated: July 9, 2024
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