Superman is back on the big screen, but the new movie directed by James Gunn doesn’t exactly make him soar like he used to. While the movie has its moments, it also feels a bit messy at times, especially with the action scenes and some of the choices made by the director.
David Corenswet, the actor playing Superman, brings a fresh face to the iconic character, but the movie’s overall direction leaves something to be desired.
A Different Kind of Superman
Corenswet, known for his roles in The Politician and Hollywood, plays Superman (aka Clark Kent) with a friendly, simple expression, but he doesn’t quite have the perfect superhero look.
His hair is dyed black, which sometimes feels off, and he’s not as perfectly chiseled as past Supermans. But despite these details, his Superman still feels approachable, human, and not as “perfect” as earlier versions.
The movie barely touches on Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, and his life at The Daily Planet, though the character of Jimmy Olsen, played by Skyler Gisondo, brings some fun energy to the film.
Meanwhile, Lois Lane (played by Rachel Brosnahan) is only developed in a few scenes, but when she and Clark/Superman interact, there’s real chemistry and some solid emotional moments.
Gunn’s Take on Superman
James Gunn, known for his work on Guardians of the Galaxy, doesn’t waste time trying to make Superman a symbol of truth and justice like in the old days. Instead, the movie focuses more on action and fun, sometimes at the expense of meaningful character development.
However, Gunn does manage to include some quirky, fun moments, like Superman sipping hot chocolate and saying, “Mmmm!” These humanizing touches give the movie a lighthearted feel, but they often feel out of place in the midst of all the chaos.
Lex Luthor’s Plan and the Action
The movie’s villain, Lex Luthor (played by Nicholas Hoult), creates plenty of drama, trying to harm Superman and provoke an international war. But the action scenes can feel a bit overdone. The military battle scenes are uninspiring and lack authenticity, making them hard to enjoy.
One particularly confusing sequence takes Superman into an alternate universe where he finds people imprisoned in massive glass cubes. The visuals in this scene are chaotic, with a mix of colors and digital effects that make the entire sequence feel like a mess.
Introducing Krypto the Dog
In a lighter moment, the movie introduces Krypto, Superman’s CGI-rendered dog. While Krypto is cute and energetic, his constant antics can become tiring as the movie goes on. It feels like a distraction from the main story rather than adding to it.
A Radical Twist
The most surprising part of the movie comes towards the end, where there’s a twist involving Superman’s origins. It turns out that the message he received from his parents, especially his father Jor-El (played by a surprise A-list actor), isn’t as perfect and inspiring as we’ve always thought.
This twist could change how we view Superman’s backstory, but whether Gunn takes it seriously or not remains to be seen.
Overall, this new Superman movie has its moments, but it feels uneven. While David Corenswet brings a fresh take to Superman, the chaotic action scenes and strange choices about the character’s backstory make it a bit hard to fully enjoy. James Gunn’s take on the iconic superhero is different, but it doesn’t quite make him fly like he did in the past.
Superman hits theaters on July 11.
