A Film by James Gunn

I am definitely not the biggest Superman fan, largely because he has been around so long as a character (almost 88 years now), and as a result, we have already gone through various waves of characterization that have increasingly become either VERY cynical (like Frank Miller’s interpretation) or some weird Jesus allegory (à la Zack Snyder). As a result, I feel that he has become boring – either too powerful or too “perfect” to the point where he does no wrong and has no flaws. Truthfully, my favorite version of the character was the one introduced in the 1990s–2000s DC animated series continuity, in which Superman was less powerful, made mistakes, and had a bit of innocence to his characterization – for example, believing in Santa Claus in one episode. The character stood for something, even if it was steeped in youthful naivety, and was not some weird post-modern take designed to upend his core values entirely.

“Set in a world where superheroes already exist, the film follows Clark Kent as he navigates his dual identity—balancing his Kryptonian legacy with his human upbringing in Smallville. As he works as a reporter in Metropolis and embraces his role as a symbol of hope, Superman faces rising tensions, public skepticism, and new threats that challenge his ideals. The film lays the foundation for a new DC Universe while staying true to the spirit of its beloved hero.”

I was excited going into this largely because I have loved James Gunn’s work since he stepped into the comic movie business and knew he would try to capture what many comic fans are looking for in a Superman movie, rather than replicating the Donner films or trying to make the character into a gritty, brooding action hero. No more Pa Kent committing suicide by tornado for no reason, no more saying “Martha” and ending a blood feud, and no third act involving a kryptonite mountain – I was ready for something different and hopefully FUN.

Gunn’s take on Superman is somewhat like the animated series version – stoic and idealistic, but innocent in many ways. This is a Superman that isn’t going by the idea that perhaps it would have been a good idea to let a bunch of kids in a school bus die to hide his powers. This is a Superman that protects all life, no matter how insignificant to most people – even going as far as to save a small squirrel in one scene. This was a Superman I was waiting for, and while not a perfect film, I actually enjoyed this one more than any Superman film in a LONG time.

David Corenswet does a great job bringing his own take on the character, and we actually get a characterization of both sides of him – a charming and powerful Superman, as well as the bumbling Clark Kent, who is kind of a goof at work and gets bullied by people. We also have the introduction of a multitude of side characters such as “The Justice Gang” (not the final name), including the Green Lantern Guy Gardner (played expertly by Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (played by Isabela Merced), and Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific – who may be the big breakout character of the film.

With other characters such as Krypto, Metamorpho, Ultraman, The Engineer, and of course Lex Luthor, the film might seem crowded, but it doesn’t waste time showing 35 origin stories and just lets you go in for the ride assuming you know who some of these characters are – hinting that more will be fleshed out in the future. Speaking of origin stories – THANK THE GODS I didn’t have to see a full-on take of Superman’s origin yet again. I never want another movie to waste an hour of runtime doing that again, and that goes double for Batman when he eventually shows up.

I won’t spoil too much here, but if you are looking for a fun, funny, and hopeful – even optimistic – take on the character, you will likely enjoy this film. It could have been edited a bit more, potentially, and it’s almost too silly sometimes, but let’s face it – it’s a James Gunn movie. There are cameos I would have never imagined in a franchise where most movies never allowed the character to punch anything, much less fight a supervillain, and it sets up tons of additional projects like the inevitable Justice League / Justice Society team-up movie, spinoffs, and more.

All I know is that this movie had me smiling throughout, laughing with my son, and even tearing up a bit when the iconic John Williams theme came in at one point – and that’s for a character I don’t particularly enjoy. So James Gunn must have done something right.