Apparently no one in Moscow looks up either. Or at least they don’t for a while. That is, until a series of heroic deeds around the city (rescuing children from burning buildings, depositing bank robbers in front of police stations, etc.) are performed by someone in a flying 1951 black Volga. Certainly it is the unlikeliest of cars for such bravery (the Volga being the “people’s car” of the Soviet era), but the hero and driver is Moscow’s version of Peter Parker, a young man from a working family just trying to earn some cash and win the heart of a beautiful girl, while maybe stopping some bad guys along the way. Black Lightning is a refreshing and fantastically executed action-adventure film.
Producer Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Night Watch) knows what makes superhero movies fun. A young man struggling with his identity, a decent badass enemy out to destroy for his own gain, a beautiful young girl and some kind of really cool toy. Dima is a university student with little pocket money, in love with Nastya who has been scooped up by his wealthy friend Maxim. His well-meaning parents buy him an old Volga, which out of necessity rather than love, he reluctantly drives. Meanwhile, the rich Kuptsov has a dastardly plan to drill for diamonds underneath the city, and he needs a powerful engine (even though the drilling will cause a massive earthquake.) While being chased by some of Kuptsov’s henchmen, Dimi discovers the car’s flying secret. At first, he uses it to avoid traffic jams, and earn more money. Then, when his father has an accident, he becomes a secret avenger.
