Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: Rachel Brosnahan, Isabela Merced, David Corenswet
(5 votes)
(Note: This review is largely taken and slightly condensed from my longer Letterboxd review.)
There's a moment in James Gunn's "Superman" where, in a massive battle against a gargantuan monstrosity unleashed by Lex Luthor, Superman stops fighting for a moment. Not to save a person, nor a dog... but a random squirrel running around on the ground below. For no reason other than to protect it. And while it's mostly played for laughs, there was also a part of me that couldn't help but stupidly grin ear to ear and say, "Now THAT'S Superman!"
Superman (David Corenswet) has been serving humanity and fighting for justice for three years, and has recently entered a relationship with Daily Planet co-worker Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan). However, public opinion begins to turn on the caped hero following his unauthorized intervention in an ongoing war between two nations overseas. At the same time, psychopathic billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) enacts a plan to capture and contain the Man of Steel...
Filled to burst with Gunn's trademark wit, consistently effective humor and an unceasing sense of whimsy, "Superman" is exactly the sort-of film the world needs right now. A movie that feels like the product of genuine love for the material and characters. In a lot of ways, it's very comparable to Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" in terms of being a good-natured nostalgic throwback. Or even the iconic original Christopher Reeve film from 1978, from which this film borrows some aesthetic and tonal ideas.
Corenswet brings the titular icon to life with a lovely performance that feels incredibly genuine and respectful. He's extraordinarily charming and hopeful, but still has flaws, and despite his near invulnerability, has a very human sensitivity. And he is matched in every way by Brosnahan, who makes a perfect Lois Lane. She's feisty and strong willed, and will do whatever it takes, but also struggles with her emotions. It's a perfect compliment to Superman's arc that Brosnahan nails. And Hoult nearly steals the whole show! His Luthor is conniving and diabolical, but also sniveling and pathetic. A sad, angry being operating purely on the sin of envy... something he wears like a badge of honor.
I was really surprised by just how funny the movie was. I knew Gunn was going to inject his brand of humor, but I wasn't expecting the movie to be nearly as much a comedy as it was a sci-fi adventure. And it works in a completely organic way and meshes well with the wonderful atmosphere Gunn establishes. With this film, Gunn has truly made one of those rare films that feels like a comic come to life. Everything about it is larger than life. Colors feel like they're leaping off the screen... every single bad-guy has some sort-of hidden door or top-secret base... monsters, clones and alternate universes run amok with the only explanation being a very tongue-in-cheek "Because science! " it truly feels like a universe where anything can happen.
It's a big, over-the-top world with big ideas and big themes. And what holds it all together is an overarching theme of love and hope that Superman represents. One of my favorite recurring motifs in the film is that people keep saying Superman's biggest flaw is seeing the best in people and trusting in them too much. Louis even accusatorily says something to the effect of him seeing everyone as "beautiful." And he does... and it's such a wonderful thing.
Also, I would give my life for Krypto. He may be a bad dog... but he is the "goodest" bad dog ever.
4.5 out of 5 (Rounding up to a 5 for Movie Mistakes.)
Continuity mistake: In the dark alley meeting between Jimmy Olsen and Eve Teschmacher, Sara Sampaio's hands change position on the jacket between shots a couple of times (for instance, at the end when she says "Ok" with a big sigh, her hands are under Jimmy's collar, but they were above it a moment before).
Superman: Krypto... Home, take me home.
Trivia: James Gunn was originally offered the chance to direct a sequel to Man of Steel after he was fired by Marvel, but he opted to make The Suicide Squad instead. When Warner Bros decided to scrap the DCEU and start a new shared universe of films, Gunn was brought in to direct this film, as well as oversee the creation of the revamped DC universe of films.