2025 | PG-13 | 129 mins | Directed by James Gunn
Superman has gone through his ups and downs (no pun intended) over the years when it comes to the big screen. Henry Cavill's tenure as the character officially ended a few years ago, after a cameo appearance in Black Adam. Not long after that the DCEU was put to rest and a new rebooted universe was on the horizon. James Gunn was brought in not only to direct a new Superman movie but also to oversee the entirety of the new DC Cinematic Universe. Gunn is no stranger to the superhero genre having directed all three Guardians of the Galaxy movies for Marvel, as well as The Suicide Squad for DC. It would seem like he is the right person for the job and after watching this new movie it is safe to say that the DCU is in good hands.
In this new introduction to Superman, it thankfully is not an origin story. The story jumps right into Clark Kent (David Corenswet) working at The Daily Planet and entering a new conflict with Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). Clark and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) are already together, and she knows that he is Superman. It sets up an interesting dynamic because the story does not have to go through all the set up on how Superman and Lex Luthor came to be. This is a huge advantage to the movie as origin stories often become too predictable and constantly feel like too much set up.
With this being the first movie in this new universe it not only sets up Superman but also the DCU at large. Gunn plants the seeds for what is to come in this universe as other superheroes are introduced and actually play a significant role in the story. It may seem like there is too much all at once but Gunn does an excellent job in never making it feel like the movie overstuffed. Yes, there is a lot more than just Superman going on in the story, but the other parts never feel like they take away from his journey. Everything is balanced quite well, and Gunn really gets the most that he can out of this amazing cast.
David Corenswet steps into the role of Clark Kent/Superman and puts in a stellar performance. He fully encapsulates the character and does so with so much charisma and heart. His chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan is a highlight of the movie. They play off each other extremely well and are very reminiscent of Christopher Reeves and Margot Kidder from the original movies. Brosnahan on her own gives a great performance and is a scene stealer at times. Nicholas Hoult is ruthless as Lex Luthor. This is the most menacing performance he has ever given, and he really makes the character his own. The rest of the cast is littered with great performances by the likes of Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, and Pruitt Taylor Vance. Skyler Gisondo and Edi Gathegi deserve their own special praise. Playing Jimmy Olsen and Mister Terrific respectively, both steal every scene and leave the audience wanting more.
There is a point when it does feel like there may be one too many characters, but they never feel like they take anything away from the main cast. Some of the effects in a few scenes look a little wonky at times but the effects overall actually look really solid. In the beginning the pacing feels a bit off as it feels like things are moving a bit too quickly. Once things settle in and the story gets going the pace moves much smoother. The addition of the dog Crypto makes for some humorous moments, however some of the scenes involving him almost take away from the action and more serious moments.
Despite some hiccups along the way, Superman is a perfect summer blockbuster. Featuring an amazing cast, fun action set pieces, and some genuine heart to the story, this is not only a great introduction to Superman but also a great introduction to the DC Cinematic Universe.
Grade: B+
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