It’s been almost half a century since the first time Superman appeared on the big screen and almost twice that long since the character made his comic book debut. As such, the caped Kryptonian requires little introduction. James Gunn, a director with considerable superhero experience, smartly chooses to largely avoid exposition and dive right into the latest blockbuster adaptation, assuming what audiences already know and taking them on a thrill ride that effectively combines fast-paced action with the token sentimentality and hokeyness that has long defined this particular protagonist.
Superman (David Corenswet) isn’t in the best shape when he first shows up, falling to the ground in Antarctica and forced to whistle for his dog, Krypto, to drag him back to his Fortress of Solitude to regain his strength. After stepping in to stop an international conflict, Superman is now the target of his nemesis Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who has engineered his own army to combat the alien he believes must be eliminated from the face of the Earth. Branded to the public as a predatory villain by Luthor, Superman faces numerous obstacles to saving the planet as his girlfriend Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) takes a more journalistic approach to exposing Luthor as the menace he truly is.
Not wasting any time on trying to reinvent the wheel or explain the specific differences of this iteration of Superman as compared with any other allows for a maximization of entertainment and the best possible usage of the film’s 129-minute runtime. News reports fill in whatever background is necessary, and information is filtered in only as it’s relevant, which makes for a leaner and more enjoyable storyline. There’s still plenty going on with numerous supporting characters, but this feels like a film that isn’t really made up of subplots but instead a handful of interconnected arcs that all serve the same purpose.
This isn’t meant to be a definitive Superman to rewrite everything that’s come before it, but instead one that could feel all-encompassing while still inviting more. Luthor is the ultimate Superman bad guy, and while this version doesn’t even try to hide his murderous intentions, it’s the group of seemingly normal people around him readily complying with his every kill order that are more chilling. While nowhere near as verbally or physically graphic as Gunn’s Peacemaker series, this film does have a bit of an edge, allowing some non-PG language and the occasional off-color disposal of an anonymous henchman or soldier who surely didn’t deserve their fate.
This is, of course, a story about Superman and Lois Lane, who as this film begins are already dating. Lois also knows that Superman is Clark, which saves any effort of having her try to figure out why her reporter boyfriend always has such great access and allows her to be a fully intelligent and extremely capable character in her own right. What this film does especially well is allow its supporting players to shine, with Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) and Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) the standouts with their spectacular abilities. One thing every version of Superman has always been great at is showing off, and it’s nice that this film doesn’t give just him space to do that.
Casting the top three roles is key to this film’s success, and all three deliver positively. Corenswet, a known quantity from Ryan Murphy’s The Politician and Hollywood, does have a natural charm, with a boyish quality that mixes well with stubborn determination. Brosnahan brings a wit and true personality to Lane that, like her signature The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel role, pairs perfectly with the sharp writing for her character. Hoult, who has been extremely busy lately with numerous roles across different genres, is energetic in portraying Luthor’s zeal for destruction and power. It’s hardly Hoult’s most impressive work, but that speaks more to the excellence of what he’s done in the past, like The Great, than any knock on this particular performance.
While those three do occupy a good portion of the film just on their own, the supporting cast is sprinkled with talent as well. Gathegi, Isabela Merced, and Nathan Fillion make for a fun mix as the members of the Justice Gang, who work as allies for Superman even if they have their own motives and style, and Skyler Gisondo and Wendell Pierce bring just what’s needed to the relatively limited roles of Daily Planet mainstays Jimmy Olsen and Perry White. Sara Sampaio leaves a very memorable mark as Luthor’s over-the-top girlfriend Eve Teschmacher.
Batman has always been the grittier hero of the DC comic book universe, and so it’s fitting that this film leans on the cheesiness every once in a while and embellishes its scenes of triumph when Superman does muster the strength to turn the tide when it looks like there’s no hope left. Krypto the dog takes on an outsized role that highlights this film’s lighthearted comedic underbelly. This movie, which boasts strong visuals, is meant to be an entertaining, fun time at the movies. It’s classic Superman that feels enough like the original that it’s hard to dislike, and just fresh enough to feel like it’s not what everyone has seen before and worth the price of admission. As the official start of the DC Universe, it’s a productive and optimistic invitation for a new age of comic book lore.
Movie Rating: 7/10
