Fans of comic book movies across the globe have been waiting for the release of James Gunn’s “Superman” since Gunn was given control of DC Studios in late 2022. The film, when it was released on July 11, was set to be the first of many in the new DC Universe, which will span both television and movies. After the disappointing DC Extended Universe (DCEU), which produced 15 films in only 10 years and received poor critical reception, fans hoped that Gunn’s new franchise would be a break from the mediocre films they had seen in the past. Thankfully, “Superman” delivered exactly that. Although it is not perfect, the movie is certainly enjoyable and gives me hope for the future of the DC Universe.
Despite being the first film in the franchise, “Superman” skips the main hero’s origin story. Gunn assumed that, since he is such an iconic character, almost everybody already knows how Kal-El came from the dying planet Krypton to Earth where he learned about love and morality. When the story begins, Superman, played by rising star David Corenswet, is already an established hero, and his alter ego, Clark Kent, is already dating his coworker, Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan. Their relationship is tested throughout as Superman, employing the help of some other superhero friends, must fight his biggest critic and villain, billionaire Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult.
Hoult’s performance as Luthor is one of my favorite parts of the film. Although he is unapologetically evil and petty, he also manages to feel realistic in the way he despises Superman.
Corenswet’s Superman, meanwhile, is his polar opposite. Superman is focused throughout the film on saving as many lives as possible, no matter the cost. In this way, Gunn really captures the “Boy Scout” spirit that Superman has in the original comics. This is a breath of fresh air from many years of dark and gritty comic adaptations, and the wholesomeness is one of the best parts of the film.
Brosnahan’s portrayal of Lois Lane is a much more competent and realistic depiction of a young journalist compared to past iterations, and she also does fantastic acting. Side characters such as Skyler Gisondo’s Jimmy Olsen and Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific tie the project together. Not one performance in the movie felt phoned in.
Technically, the movie is impressive, but not groundbreaking. As far as superhero movies go, the special effects were average. The set design, costuming and score were well-done, but still did not blow me away. That said, those things are not what “Superman” is really about. It is more of a study of the differences between good and evil. It contrasts two people, Luthor and Superman, both given extraordinary abilities. The difference between them is how they use these powers; Luthor uses his intellect and fortune to take from those less powerful than him, and Superman uses his incredible strengths to help as many people as he possibly can. In this way, the movie also asks what it means to be a human. Although he was not born on Earth, Superman is a firm believer in helping others and compassion. He was raised on a farm in Kansas, went through school and has to work just like everybody else. So, he must ask himself, does that not make him as human as everybody else?
Overall, “Superman” is a sweet, entertaining movie that is easy to enjoy. It is not an absolute masterpiece of art, but its light-hearted comedy and fast-paced action sequences make it great. It also excels at quickly and effectively introducing important characters to a brand-new franchise that are likely to return later on. Seemingly, audiences and critics agree; the film is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and earned roughly $614 million at the box office.
