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Oh and the following review does include some spoilers!
Review by Jon Donnis
James Gunn's Superman is the first entry in the new DC Universe, a clean slate for the franchise and a chance to finally give the Man of Steel a fresh cinematic identity. And in parts, it does exactly that. There are flourishes of real charm, a few surprising laughs, and the odd burst of visual spectacle. But somehow, despite all the noise and colour, it doesn't leave much of an impression.
It opens in familiar territory. Krypton crumbles, the baby Kal-El is launched into space, and the Kent family takes him in. That emotional thread still works, even if we've seen it countless times before. By the time we're reintroduced to Clark Kent in Metropolis, he's already an established superhero. The Daily Planet dynamic is in place, Lois knows the truth, and there's even a loyal dog with superpowers. So far, so comic-book classic.
But instead of letting that foundation breathe, the film dives headfirst into a crowded political crisis involving fictional countries, a shadowy war, and a billionaire who wants to be a god (Bill Gates?). Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult, is at the centre of it, trying to manipulate public fear and government paranoia to get Superman out of the way. On paper, it's timely. In practice, it feels a bit thin. Hoult never quite sells Luthor's menace. There's no real weight behind his threats, and the performance feels oddly youthful, more petulant than powerful. The role needs gravitas. This version doesn't have it.
Then there's the matter of tone. For a story that touches on war, manipulation, and global trust, it spends a surprising amount of time trying to make you laugh. The Fortress of Solitude is staffed by oddball robots that get the biggest laughs of the film. They're ridiculous, but hard not to enjoy. Same goes for Krypto the Superdog. It should have been cringe, but somehow he's one of the more likeable characters. Which might be a problem when the film is supposed to be about Superman.
And that's where things start to wobble. The central figure, (Superman), the one this entire reboot hangs on, ends up sidelined. He's not particularly interesting here. Mister Terrific, played with real sharpness by Edi Gathegi, ends up stealing the film with the most crowd-pleasing scene. He's clever, capable, and actually fun to watch. Superman by comparison just feels a bit flat. There's nothing wrong with David Corenswet's performance, but the script never gives him a truly memorable moment. No "chills down your spine" rescue, no speech that sticks. You finish the film and struggle to remember what he really did, beyond getting hurt, healing up, and punching a clone into a black hole.
The film also leans heavily on its comic book roots, specifically the All-Star Superman arc, and fans of that source material might get a kick out of seeing those panels brought to life. But even that loyalty to the comics starts to buckle under the sheer number of characters squeezed into the runtime. Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, Ultraman, even the Engineer. It's a lot. Too much for a story that's supposed to reintroduce Superman to a new generation. You can't help but feel the film is more interested in setting up future DCU stories than telling a focused one here.
Still, it's not all wasted. There's a decent energy to the action. The black hole sequence has real stakes, even if the resolution feels a bit too neat. The supporting cast mostly do what they can with the material, and there's a decent attempt at showing the toll of public perception on a hero like Superman. But the emotional beats don't land as they should, often drowned out by another gag or another cameo.
By the end, Luthor's downfall feels inevitable, not dramatic. Lois and Superman share their kiss, the world is saved again, and Krypto gets picked up by a drunk Supergirl. It's fine. It's all just… fine. Forgettable, in a way that a film like Superman really shouldn't be.
Oh and I didn't even mention the dodgy CGI. The weird eyes are still there. And gone is the classic John Williams score, replaced with a poor imitation.
You want to come out of a Superman movie feeling something. Inspired, maybe. Awed. This one just leaves you thinking about the Fortress robots and wondering if Mister Terrific is getting a spin-off.
Five out of ten. Just about.
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