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After two years of rumors, speculation, toxicity and hope, James Gunn’s Superman roared into theaters last night as part of an advanced screening for Prime members. Gunn has an arduous task at hand as he and Peter Safran must wash away the bad taste that the DCEU left and reshape a positive and bright future for their blossoming DCU. They have an uphill battle and even though Gunn has publicly denied it, the heart, soul and future rests with the inaugural first film in his arsenal which is also known as Superman. The iconic OG superhero has been restarted multiple times and when you have the GOAT in Christopoher Reeve, it’s hard to have audiences and fans jump on board when they are skeptical to say the least. Simply put, if Superman doesn’t soar this weekend at the worldwide box office, the DCU is DOA before it even gets off and running.
Well, with all that said, Superman is a true and authentic love letter to fans worldwide of the OG superhero and all superheroes in general. Gunn understands this genre and knows how to cook it and his love for these characters shines onscreen from opening salvo to closing triumph. This is why we go to the movies, and this brought me back to 1978 and that faithful opening weekend and once again, a movie made me believe that not only could a man fly but he could embody all that is good in humanity. Superman breathtakingly pays homage to the past while blowing the doors off of the future for the newly formed DCU with bombastic, big screen comic book theatrics and a new, legit Man of Steel in David Corenswet who shines in the role and makes it his while at the same time implementing parts of those who came before him.
Gunn’s Superman is a vibrant, exhilarating testament to the silver age of comics when heroes were good and villains were bad. It fantastically blends all that we have come to love with an eclectic merging of sci-fi, jaw dropping action and human emotion that is layered into a single film that explodes with hope, love and mastery that hasn’t been seen since that wonderful weekend back in 1978. I might be letting nostalgia get the better of me here but that is far from a bad thing.
This is a spoiler free review as I will respect those that have not seen it yet as the movie opens fully on Thursday night so I will just comment on what I can and what has been seen in the promos up till now. Gunn makes good on his promise as this is not an origin story. He knows even the casual moviegoer knows the history of Kal-El and he literally drops us into the action with a resounding BOOM. This Superman quietly begins with a rather speedy recap of how Krypton’s last son came to Earth by simply stating what needs to be said in a few short paragraphs. Gunn knows that the films of the past and, oh yeah, the comics have already depicted Krypton’s sad finale and Clark growing up to be the savior he was meant to be which rescues the audience from another useless prologue.
No sir. Here, Gunn drops us right into the thick of things and we realize that our beloved hero has lost his very first battle which results in him plummeting to earth and being rescued by his plucky super dog Krypto. A lot of people made hateful waves due to the inclusion of the famous pooch but here it is a wonderful add and it helps realign the story with that of the comics that came before. It is with this opening scene that Gunn rapidly acquaints us with Supes, Krypto and the iconic Fortress of Solitude.
After this ferocious intro, we come to find out that Clark is all grown up and he has even been Superman for quite sometime. He is, of course, living in Metropolis and he is a beat reporter for The Daily Planet. There he works with all the familiar faces like Lois Lane (a magnificent Rachel Brosnahan) and Jimmy Olsen (who this time is played by Skyler Gisondo, who puts a different and well inviting new take on the beloved character). Perry White (Wendell Pierce, who should have had more screentime) is the boss, and this world is simply and exactly like it should be.
Then there’s the one and only Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), a skeptical, loathing megalomaniac who for some reason hates Superman with all that he is. Luthor has a sinister plan up his sleeves and that plan is to diabolically sway the public’s opinion when it comes to the much-loved alien. The government intervenes when it can as they are unsure of Superman, sure, he does all this good for the planet but he’s still an alien from another world and they just aren’t sure what his true intentions are. Most of the world views him as a hero and that is something that Lex wants to change. To put it simply, he wants to frame the Man of Steel and destroy his reputation while at the same time announcing himself as the savior of the world.
Another interesting facet of the story is that hero and villain have never truly met and Luthor makes no qualms about his distaste for Superman and puts his powerplay into motion with dastardly results. Hoult’s Luthor is petty, jealous and fueled by a ravenous rage that is centered on the Kryptonian that is unrivaled. He has essentially made it his life mission to destroy this man or Superman.
I have to commend David Corenswet for taking on this role because it literally lives or dies with his performance. Putting on the famous cape and outfit must have been a daunting task and Corenswet accepts is all with a smile and a wink. Gunn made the best choice here and Corenswet’s version is the perfect fusion of boy scout heroics and farm boy innocence with the swagger of someone who has all these powers. Simply put, Corenswet was born for this role and hopefully we get to see him play it for years. He is Superman and there is no question that he has what it takes to carry this blossoming new universe.
The same can be said for Rachel Brosnahan. With her portrayal of the intrepid reporter Lois Lane, Brosnahan is spot on bringing the confidence, beauty and unapologetic fervor that comes with the character. There is no denying that Margot Kidder, like her co-star Christopher Reeve, is the GOAT when it comes to this character, but Brosnahan runs away with the role and without question becomes that character. For far too long, the screen interpretations of Lois Lane have been bitter and angry but here Brosnahan triumphantly brings Lois Lane back full circle and just like Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, she is this generation’s Lois Lane and has officially earned the right to play her.
The chemistry between the two leads is off the charts and it is clear why Gunn has put all his time and effort into getting this portion right. When Corenswet and Brosnahan are on screen together, you cannot turn away and they are the heart and soul of this story.
Gunn’s screenplay is filled with all the cleverness that you could hope for and while some of his choices won’t win over some serious hardcore fans, this lover of all things Superman ate it all up and welcomed the changes with open arms. The film does have its share of side characters, but Gunn does what he can with giving everyone something to do and only fails with a few of them when it comes to screentime, Perry White and Ma and Pa Kent being the worse casualties.
The characters introduced here are literally staking their claim in their future with the DCU and we have Mr. Terrific (a scene stealing Edi Gathegi), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Guy Gardner/Green Lantern (the always game Nathan Fillion) all culminating here and adding to the story. The Justice Gang, as Gardner affectionately calls them, is also unsure of Superman but when the time comes, they answer the call and do their superhero thing. Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific is really…well…terrific here and his character is the clear winner out of the supporting cast.
On Luthor’s team, we also have The Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría), and the mysterious Ultraman who make do with what they given but their characters could have been fleshed out more and when it does come time to reveal who Ultraman really is, I realized that I was right all along. Ma and Pa Kent (Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince) are also excellent with the screentime they are given but unfortunately, they are given little to do so hopefully that will change with further entries into the DCU. There is one scene between Father and son that brought a tear to my eye, and it is hands down the best quiet moment of the film.
The action set pieces are worth the price of admission alone and each altercation is better than the previous with a rousing finale that plays out in the skies of Metropolis. Yes, we’ve seen the destruction of the city before, but it is essential for the story and Superman battling the bad guys throughout the air is simply marvelous with one instance giving me chills. All I will say about that scene is that it’s where the laser beams come into play. Gunn amplifies the moment and proceeds to finish it off with a crescendo of superhero bravado that has been unequaled on film before.
Gunn does his best tom immerse the audience in the mayhem and he expertly choreographs the sequences so they leave us feeling dazzled and not dizzy while utilizing all the FX that he can muster. I heard that some people were not a fan of some of the CGI, but I was more than fine with it all and was engulfed with the sheer madness of it all.
Action aside, at the core of this Superman is the undying message that hope springs eternal and the character from the pages of DC is a beacon of pride, kindness and undying love. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Henrry Cavill during his tenure as the character, but Corenswet’s version is the one we so desperately need right now. This Superman is a beacon of hope who isn’t afraid to make mistakes and hone up to them when he does. No one is perfect, not even Superman and with this Gunn makes him approachable to the viewers.
We all know that a great superhero or comic book movie lives or dies by its score as well and with that composers David Fleming and John Murphy have nailed it with a score that is essential. They cleverly and masterfully merge the old with a new as they pay their respects to John Williams’ iconic score while doing their own thing at the same time. It is hero worthy, and Gunn uses to its full effect in all the key sequences of the movie. When the music hits and I get chills, you know they did their job.
I could say more but now is not the time. A week from now, we will fully dive into this movie like we should. For now, just know that with this new DCU, Gunn means to stick the landing when all is said and done. There are always going to be haters but that is just how life is. With this film, Gunn has recaptured what creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster had envisioned for him almost 90 years ago when they created him.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Gunn knows this and with that he ushers in a new age of excitement, bewilderment and fun. This is what the MCU used to be like before it lost its way and hopefully, they get it back, but I feel Gunn has watched and learned from his time with that company and he will do right by all these characters when all is said and done. Superman is a beacon of light, strength and humanity and I find it fitting that he is not of this world at all as the real world could benefit from someone like him. This Superman is a vibrant, colorful and intoxicating film that is ripped from the very pages of the comics that it represents to its fullest. It’s a return to form for a genre that so desperately needed a recharge and with that Gunn has given it to us in spades.
This is why we go to the movies, and this brought me back to 1978 and that faithful opening weekend and once again, a movie made me believe that not only could a man fly but he could embody all that is good in humanity. This has been, without a doubt, two of the most trying years of my life and for 2 plus hours, I forgot about it all and grinned from ear to ear like that 5-year-old boy who sat in that theater seat all those years ago. 5 out of 5 for me and hands down, my favorite movie of the year. Is it perfect? Well, no movie is but you have to ask yourself the all-important question after seeing it…was it perfect to you? With that, all I can say is yes. Yes, it was. Look Up…
VERDICT: 5 Out of 5 Stars
James Gunn’s SUPERMAN breathtakingly pays homage to the past while blowing the doors off of the future for the newly formed DCU with bombastic, big screen comic book theatrics and a new, legit Man of Steel in David Corenswet. A true and authentic love letter to fans worldwide of the OG superhero and all superheroes in general. Gunn understands this genre and knows how to cook it. This is why we go to the movies.
This is an essential comic book movie for hardcore fans everywhere!
