The new era of the DC Universe (DCU) began with the animated series, Creature Commandos, written by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy). Gunn’s next installment of the DCU is the highly anticipated Superman. The first theatrical release in the DCU has highs and lows, which made for an uneven viewing experience for me.
The story focuses on Clark Kent, also known as Superman (David Corenswet), after he’s stopped a war between the two countries of Boravia and Jarhanpur. Superman’s actions have many criticizing his right to interfere, primarily because one of the countries, Boravia, is meant to be an ally of the USA. Through this conflict, we have Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), meddling – as he does best – his hatred for Superman palpable. With a team of tech workers at his command, including the Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría), Luthor does everything in his power to try to stop Superman at every turn, attempting to turn the people of Metropolis and the world at large against him.
Throughout the film’s central conflict, audiences are introduced to steadfast Superman elements such as Clark’s work at The Daily Planet, his paramour and fellow journalist, Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), and colleagues, Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Perry White (Wendell Pierce), Steve Lombard (Beck Bennett), and Cat Grant (Micaela Hoover). We are also introduced to a plethora of characters who know Superman, including the members of the Justice Gang (name is a work in progress, or an absolute no if Hawkgirl has anything to say about it), featuring Green Lantern/Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi).
[*Please be aware that there are plot devices in the movie mentioned below from this point forward.]
The Superman cast is truly impressive, featuring exceptional actors who have consistently delivered outstanding performances in their past work. Rachel Brosnahan shines as Lois Lane, effortlessly dishing out her signature sharp wit. Edi Gathegi is cool, calm, and collected as Mister Terrific, and he’s a welcome comrade to Lois and Superman throughout the film. Their chemistry is off the charts, and they are scene stealers throughout the movie, at the forefront of some of the film’s best moments.
Brosnahan is spot-on with her Lois, easily dishing out her signature sharp wit with authority. Gathegi is cool, calm, and collected as Mister Terrific (except when Krypto messes with his T-spheres), and he’s a welcome comrade to Lois and Superman throughout the film. The two share a particularly entertaining scene midway through the movie, which is marred by an unnecessary needle drop. That said, it would have been nice to see more of Brosnahan’s Lois. As one of the best parts of the film, I was disappointed that we didn’t get more of her and more Clois, as the chemistry between Brosnahan and Corenswet is through the roof.
As for the man of the hour, Superman himself, David Corenswet fits the bill. With charm and a kind smile, he effortlessly portrays the trustworthy guy next door. He wants good in the world, and tries to see the best in people, despite the world being an often daunting and dangerous place. This is something that many have yearned for, and Corenswet hits the mark.
As for the villains, I was pleasantly surprised by María Gabriela de Faría as the Engineer. She knocked it out of the park as the character with the ability to turn her body into machinery. With the arsenal of a brilliant mind and nanotechnology, de Faría is a great partner to Nicholas Hoult’s Luthor. Hoult did a great job portraying the character’s insecurity and maniacal need to destroy Superman.
Superman stays true to the character and the themes present in the comics, a fact that should reassure fans. As per usual, trolls have been labelling it “woke” because Gunn has referred to Superman’s story as an immigrant one, or they have made comments that the movie shouldn’t align with or comment on politics, when comics have always been inherently political. It should be political, and it should also portray Superman as a symbol of hope. At this, Superman succeeds, staying true to the character’s roots and original themes.
As a character that has existed for decades, the wheel doesn’t need to be reinvented. Superman is a human-presenting alien who saves people and animals alike, believes in the good of people, and is a beacon of hope to many. Superman achieves this, but the story is hindered by a narrative that attempts to include too much, moves too quickly at times, and fails to allow for certain moments to breathe. This narrative execution, while disappointing, is a common pitfall in many comic book movies.
In true Gunn fashion, the director sets the tone for the events of the movie with colourful worlds, engaging action set pieces (shoutout to the laser vision scene), and tender character moments (particularly between Clark and his parents). However, some moments are sidetracked by unnecessary comedic moments, which undercut the heart of the scene and the emotions the story is trying to evoke. There’s a specific scene where Clark discusses how human he is, despite being Kryptonian. This isn’t solely because good people raised him, but because he experiences all the things and emotions that the people on earth do, including love and hope. This otherwise touching moment is swiftly upended by another moment meant to be laughed at.
With many comic book movies in existence, you’re likely to run into common or similar moments in many of them. Due to this, there are moments in Superman that feel like a rehash of ideas or elements seen in past comic book movies, including clones and evil doppelgangers, as well as the registration of those with superpowers or abilities, to name a few. Those choices weren’t even the most confounding. There was an instance where a POC character was used as a plot device in the film. The character has shown compassion to Superman in the past, which is one of the reasons the superhero believes in the good in people. What is done to the character to spur the story forward leaves a bad taste in my mouth. While the intent might not be that a POC character is easily disposable, that was how it came across, especially when Luthor could be threatening a whole slew of people, yet this was the choice that was made. This is the kind of moment that cheapens the message of tolerance presented in other moments of the movie.
With a great cast and timely themes, Superman should have been a home run. However, with the time spent shoehorning unnecessary comedy, characters, and some strange narrative decisions, it didn’t quite stick the landing for me. Ultimately, I thought Superman was a mixed bag that had glimmers of goodness but settled for just okay. I genuinely wish that I enjoyed it much more.
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