Superman Review

Directed By: James Gunn
Written By: James Gunn; Based on the DC comics and characters
Runtime: 129 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated PG-13 for violence, action and language

David Corenswet – Superman/Clark Kent
Rachel Brosnahan – Lois Lane
Nicholas Hoult – Lex Luthor
María Gabriela de Faría – The Engineer/Angila Spica
Edi Gathegi – Mister Terrific/Michael Hoult
Anthony Carrigan – Metamorpho/Rex Mason
Nathan Fillion – Green Lantern/Guy Gardner
Isabela Merced – Hawkgirl/Kendra Saunders
Skyler Gisondo – Jimmy Olsen
Sara Sampaio – Eve Teschmacher
Terence Rosemore – Otis
Pruitt Taylor Vince – Jonathan Kent
Neva Howell – Martha Kent
Wendell Pierce – Perry White
Beck Bennett – Steve Lombard
Mikaela Hoover – Cat Grant
Frank Grillo – General Rick Flag, Sr.
Alan Tudyk – Four

Filmmaker James Gunn presents his bold new cinematic vision of the DC Universe with its first theatrical adventure, Superman. With a hopeful, optimistic tone and a gargantuan budget and scope, Gunn seeks to leave his mark on the comic book superhero genre, now leading as the chief architect for a shared motion picture version of the DC Comics universe. Superman succeeds in some areas, specifically its casting and strong thematic messaging, but it falls flat due to an overcrowded plot.

Gunn gets straight to the action quickly. The Superman origin story has played out. Superman picks up with DC’s Big Blue (Corenswet) already established, having recently revealed himself to the world and his intentions to serve humanity as a force for good. Superman, raised by his blue-collar parents Jonathan (Taylor Vince) and Martha Kent (Howell), originally hails from the planet Krypton. The young Clark Kent, born on Krypton as Kal-El, believes it was his Kryptonian parents’ dying wish to use his incredible powers to protect all humankind.

Unfortunately for Superman, also known as Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent, billionaire industrialist and arms dealer Lex Luthor resents the superhero’s existence and has already made it his mission to physically destroy Superman and his reputation. After Luthor deals a huge proverbial blow, Superman’s public image is shattered; and likewise, Superman’s outlook is dealt a haymaker. It now comes down to Superman finding the strength to do what’s right and fight for truth and justice.

At its core, a good movie certainly exists within Superman. However, the film suffers from trying to do too much too soon. It not only seeks to establish Superman in the new cinematic DC Universe, along with Superman’s main supporting cast; but the new reboot also establishes the wider version of that new motion picture universe. That’s where the Justice Gang, a group of more established and experienced Earth-based heroes, comes into play. From time to time, they work alongside Superman, despite Superman seeking alternative means to deal with their heavyweight problems.

Besides the involvement of Lex Luthor, his plot to destroy Superman, Superman’s role in a delicate international geopolitical conflict, and Justice Gang’s involvement, the film also portrays the burgeoning romance between Superman/Clark Kent and his ace reporter colleague at the Daily Planet, Lois Lane (Brosnahan). The film picks up with their relationship already underway, and Brosnahan is well aware of Superman’s secret identity. Brosnahan’s strong performance as Lois Lane and her chemistry with Corenswet are among the high points of the film. Corenswet delivers a likably charming and earnest performance as Kal-El. The premise of Superman being a nice guy, genuinely trying to do the right thing, is the smart choice. The unfortunate problem concerns how the movie overstuffs the narrative with so many additional characters and subplots that the film becomes noticeably bloated and easily distracted.

For example, in the middle of the film, there is a moment where Superman’s outlook becomes shattered. Gunn takes a major swing and deviation in terms of the more typically recognized lore and mythology of the character. The reveal suggests some rather significant, wide-reaching implications. However, the reveal comes off almost like an afterthought. It’s a significant revelation that warrants further exploration, but the plot soon jumps to a war between the fictional countries of Boravia and Jarhanpur, Lex Luthor kidnapping Superman’s foster super-dog, Krypto, and Lois and Jimmy seeking to uncover Luthor’s conspiracy. Additionally, Luthor’s vapid, selfie-obsessed influencer/supermodel girlfriend, Eve Tescmacher (Sampaio), carries a weirdly obsessive infatuation for Olsen, despite her relationship with the Machiavellian Luthor. The movie has a lot going on, and that sometimes takes the focus away from Superman’s overarching journey.

Rather than rehash Superman’s origin story, Gunn dives right into his new universe, which is both a blessing and a curse. It’s nice to see a movie where the world is already fully realized, that fully embraces concepts and ideas from a version of Earth where metahumans, superheroes, and villains are already prevalent. The main drawback in Superman is that Gunn starts the story at a midway point. If Superman was a TV series, the two-hour pilot movie already happened, and the season is about halfway finished. Gunn’s avoiding retelling things like Superman’s origin is understandable, but the way the story unfolds, important context is missing for various characters and relationships.

The film frequently glosses over important events without proper context, and at times, certain story decisions play out arbitrarily. Although Superman’s basic backstory has become cliche at this point, it still would have been effective to see this version of Lex Luthor coming into his hatred and vendetta for Superman. Hoult’s version of Lex seems okay. However, his character still lacks the proper motivation for why he hates Superman because it does not take place onscreen. Consequently, it never quite clicks.

And yes, it’s very exciting to see characters such as Metamorpho realized in a live-action format, but his introduction is rushed. Gunn displays an emotional investment in the characters and wants the audience to care for them as well, but so many characters and events are thrown out that they lack sufficient breathing room.

The movie truly shines in the more personal scenes with Clark, his parents, and Lois, which serve as the emotional heart of the film. Superman would have proven more effective by leaning more into these elements, along with fleshing out the key relationships. Otherwise, the DC Universe setting sometimes overpowers the film’s overall presentation.

Superman presents an energetic and entertaining comic book superhero movie experience, despite its flaws. The film could have used fewer characters and subplots. Ultimately, Superman’s mission statement rings true. In a world of bleak pessimism, Superman’s outlook of hope and optimism becomes the bolder choice, “the real punk rock.”

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

James Gunn's version of Superman gets more right than wrong. However, the film, at times, suffers from an overcrowded plot with far too many characters and subplots. There is a good movie at its core, but it sometimes gets lost and tangled up. David Corenswet finds his way, despite an overly busy plot, with a strong performance as DC's Big Blue Boy Scout. The overall message -- making the voluntary choice to act with hope and optimism in a world of pessimism -- is strong, even though it sometimes becomes lost amid an overwrought narrative.