Comic book movies have come a long way since Richard Donner's Superman first wowed moviegoers in 1978. But ask any long-time superhero film fan today, and they would most likely decry the lack of that same wow factor in recent films. Still, if there's one director who has consistently delivered spectacular superhero movies, then it is surely James Gunn, with Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad being regarded among the genre's upper echelon. So does his take on Superman breathe new life into the superhero genre, or are we truly within the cold, hard grasp of superhero fatigue?
Shortly after single-handedly stopping an invasion between two warring nations, the titular Superman (David Corenswet) is forced to deal with the consequences of his actions as the US government begins to question his ability to act with impunity. Meanwhile, his archnemesis, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) devises a plan to further hurt his reputation, which involved infiltrating his base at the Fortress of Solitude. And with his hands already full trying to keep the city of Metropolis safe, Superman would need all the help he can get before he gets grounded for good.
From the moment it was announced that the DC Extended Universe had come to an abrupt end, many had wondered what the new vision for those specific pantheon of comic book heroes and villains would look like. After all, we were just coming off several years worth of movies that made up the DCEU, including the three that comprise what is colloquially known as the Snyderverse. And as a self-proclaimed Zack Snyder fan myself, it was a bit sad to see that director's plans for the DCEU peter out the way they did. I guess his more somber take on the superhero mythos didn't resonate with enough people to make the whole thing commercially viable.
So enter James Gunn, with his quirky sensibilities and affinity for needle drops, and the first thing that immediately leaps off the screen in the first film of his newly-minted DC Universe, Superman, are the vibrant colors. Gone are the dull, muted tones of the Snyderverse, replaced instead with a full rainbows-worth of reds, greens and blues. That vibrancy extends beyond just the color pallette, as it also permeates the feel of the film. There is no other way to say this, but the humor in the movie is quite goofy, so those looking for something more serious might find the jokes a bit grating.
Thankfully, I was onboard for all of it and I had a smile on my face for most of the movie's 130-minute runtime. None of this should come as a surprise to anyone who enjoyed James Gunn's work on the Guardians of the Galaxy films, though, as he once again proves that he can capably balance between the humor and the heavier subject matters these stories demand. As for the new Superman himself, David Corenswet, he definitely gave a performance that channels the charm and overall campiness of those Christopher Reeve Superman films, although I can definitely see how some might take issue with his perceived ineptitude in the film.
The area where Superman truly excels though is in its action sequences. Each setpiece in the movie was appropriately grand and wildly kinetic, showcaaing the full gamut of superpowers at our heroes' disposal. Not since Zack Snyder's own work on films like 300 and Watchmen have the panels of a comic book been so faithfully brought to life on the big screen, calling to mind the sense of scale and excesses of the silver age era of comic books it is clearly drawing inspiration from. I say all that to implore you to watch this film in a theater with a screen big enough to soak it all in.
In terms of how well Superman sets up the new DC Universe, I'd say it does an admirable job overall. I appreciated the decision to start the story right dab in the middle with a world already populated by metahumans and Superman himself already three years into his tenure as Protector of Metropolis. This negates the need to spend time setting up the universe and we instead get to learn about the characters as we go. And while some of those characters didn't get nearly enough screen time or character development, I still look forward to seeing them whenever they pop up next. This is doubly so for Krypto, who was the real MVP in my opinion.
Superman is precisely what every comic book movie should aspire to be. It delivers all the thrills and spectacle the genre is known for but never at the expense of a story filled with hope and joy. With this, James Gunn has shown that DC Studios is indeed in good hands and that the DCU is certainly off to a solid start. So my only hope going forward is that the movie finds all the success it deserves and that he continues to steer the ship in a worthwhile direction.