I went into Superman expecting to laugh and cry. I’ve had both reactions watching earlier James Gunn movies. And yet, despite the many spoilers in the advance press for this film, there was much that was a pleasant surprise.
The film opens three years after the Man of Steel first revealed himself to the world. However, his position as the World’s Finest hero is in peril. His efforts to stop a war between Boravia and Jarhanpur have inspired controversy, as the United States is allied with Boravia.
Those efforts have earned Superman the ire of Lex Luthor, who made a fortune selling weapons to Boravia. Luthor is also trying to convince the US Department of Defense to put him in charge of policing metahumans. This leads Luthor to try and turn the public against Superman, painting him as an enemy of humanity.
Superman draws deeply on the lore of DC Comics
I don’t believe any other comic book movie has reflected its source material so accurately as Superman. Gunn’s script is full of nods to the lore of DC Comics. Yet everything is made accessible to those who don’t know that Green Lantern is a space cop, or that Hawkgirl‘s wings aren’t part of her body.
The action sequences are top-notch, with the best flying effects of any superhero movie ever made. However, it is the performances of the ensemble that sell the movie. The Justice Gang and Daily Planet staff all have great moments, but there are two stand-outs. Edi Gathegi steals many scenes as Mr. Terrific, who tries to be purely logical, yet is the first to start shouting at the stupidity around him. And Skyler Gisondo offers up a take on Jimmy Olsen in shockingly true to the comics, making the character more than someone else for Superman to save.
David Corenswet may be the best cinematic Superman
The core cast is also amazing. David Corenswet is a worthy successor to the Man of Steel’s legacy, and manages the same subtle shifts in physicality that defined Christopher Reeve’s performances. Rachel Brosnahan perfectly captures the bold honesty that defines Lois Lane. And Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor as the pettiest of bullies, who will let the world burn so he can rule over the ashes.
However, for all it gets right, Superman is not perfect. There is one running gag that I think wears out its welcome long before the final payoff. I’m also perplexed, given all the other material taken from the comics, as to why The Engineer is a creation of Lex Luthor. In the original The Authority comics, she was a self-made vigilante. It would have made more sense to use Mercy Graves if they wanted a cyborg on Luthor’s payroll. Then again, Mercy and Miss Teschmacher might have been too much.
I am not ready to say that James Gunn’s Superman is a better film than 1978’s Superman: The Movie. However, the fact that I am prepared to consider that question speaks volumes. In either case, the new DCU is off to a super start.
Grade: 9/10
