Superman
Superman has once again returned to the big screen, and even more shockingly he’s wearing the trunks again! What has been hailed as maybe the most important movie of the summer; it certainly is a hugely important movie for the superhero industry that has been taking over Hollywood since the X-Men came on screen in 2000 and Raimi took a swing at Spider-Man in 2002.
With the past ten years coining the phrase, “Superhero fatigue,” it seems massively important to the industry that this movie not only be good but be received well. And after seeing it, I think there’s still hope for blockbusters and superhero movies, especially this new blossoming DCU that is being ran by James Gunn.
Gunn, now at the helm of DC films, directed and wrote Superman. A movie that puts its audience right in the middle of the action. Superman has just lost his first battle, and he’s found himself in the middle of global political affairs. After Lex Luthor puts in place a very public smear campaign against the Kryptonian, Clark must come to terms with who he is, and what he wants to be, not only in his personal relationships but as Superman.
Most of the successes in the film come from Gunn’s writing and directorial charm. It is bright and colorful, with smart and quippy writing that keeps it light and funny, while also tackling some deep concepts like identity and moralism. However, some of the failings of the film are also inherent to James Gunn related projects. Not all the comedic lines land, and the script is very busy with action and dialogue. And while his action directing can be incredibly fun, maybe the most exciting bit being a sequence where Mr. Terrific gets to show off in the second act, it can also get bogged down by the world he’s put it in and be incredibly repetitive when you’re seeing the same sequence of camera angles multiple times.
The highlight of the film though, is the new trio it is centered around. David Corenswet shines as Superman/Clark Kent. He brings a charm and masculine demeanor to the character, while also being incredibly vulnerable. He gets frustrated when asked about his motivations to stop a war overseas, but can’t let a squirrel get squashed in the middle of a battle. Corenswet makes flying around the city look effortless and cool, while probably straining every one of his muscles in a complicated contraption meant to hold him in the sky. In every way, his Superman feels like a return to basics, a classic good guy from Kansas, who is charming and fun, but isn’t trying to be macho or cheuvenstic. He just wants to help people, and date Lois Lane of course.
Speaking of Lois, Rachel Brosnahan is an excellent choice for the character. This new updated version of the independent journalist that captures Clark Kent’s heart is full of life. She has the best chemistry with Corenswet but plays off of everyone well on the film. With her in a smaller role is Skyler Gisondo as the new Jimmy Olsen, who can’t help but charm an audience whenever he is on screen.
Nicholas Hoult as this iteration of Lex Luthor is electric. His hate for Superman jumps off the screen every second he is on it. From his physical stature to the way he utters his words, everything about him drips of billionaire philanthropist out for his own self benefit. The faults in this character have nothing to do with the performance that Hoult is giving, but the lack of character focus and motivation in the script. There is some really great writing for Lex Luthor, but the film attempts to do a sly switch up in the last act involving him that doesn’t entirely land because the writing doesn’t back up the character motivations. And when it is revealed it’s in a painstaking monologue that has been seen before many times between a villain and a hero.
If the performances are holding this film together, it’s the writing and expansion into a wider universe that holds it back. There is something fun about the fact that ‘The Justice Gang’ appears throughout the film, but Superman’s absence is always felt when they take up too much attention. The ultimate ending of the film doesn’t entirely fall apart, but it relies a lot on technological mumbo jumbo so that there can be a big problem that Superman has to fix. However, despite the occasional joke that overstays its welcome, the struggling visual effects and lack of fully formed characters that appear onscreen, I welcome this new version of Superman.
It is a Superman that is rooted in what the world looks like today. A Superman that is more interested in being good despite the challenges he is facing. A Superman that is interested in being fun and bright and colorful as well as being nuanced and complex. And when the jokes land, they’re very very funny.