“Superman” begins with the Man Of Steel (David Corenswet) crash landing near his Artic Fortress Of Solitude. He’s in bad shape, and has his rambunctious super dog Krypto, deliver him to his fortress so he can be patched up. He’s been beaten down by an iron-suited guardian of a country that Superman prevented from starting a war with a neighboring country. Turns out the Guardian is a pawn of none other than Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) who is using all and any means necessary to bring Superman down. Luthor’s plan is multilayered, attacking Superman’s crediblity online as well as attacking him physically Superman is forced to play from behind, as it were.
Meanwhile, Superman/Clark Kent is already in a budding relationship with reporter Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and although she knows his secret identity, no one else at the Daily Planet does. Clark’s desire to to good for good’s sake makes the cynical Lois a little uncomfortable and that, combined with Superman’s awesome power, can potentially drive a wedge in their relationship. Not only does Superman have to contend with a bombardment of negative social media content and fake news, he also is dealt a betrayal from the last two people he’d expect. Superman will have to dig deep and rely on some somewhat unconventional allies to rise above the distrust and find a way to stop Luther and his nefarious plan!
Now I’m giving you the broad strokes of “Superman” because the joy is in discovering the layers of Luthor’s plan and the methods Superman uses to overcome his arch-enemy. One of the neat things about writer/director Gunn’s script is that it eschews the origin story in favor of a world that has known and mostly loved the Man Of Steel for quite some time. Clark and Luthor already have a history, so their mutual antagonism has had a chance to blossom into, especially in Luthor’s case, overriding hate and jealously. It makes Luthor a compelling villain without making him any less despicable.
“Man Of Steel” told the story of Superman as an alien who isn’t sure of his place in the world. It’s a very good film, but the Superman we all know and love hasn’t been fully formed yet. The distrust that goes both ways for most of the film presents a grim and cynical atmosphere that takes a total of three movies to overcome. It’s probably a more “realistic” take on the arrival of an all-powerful alien from another star system, but it’s definitely not a joyous affair.
“Superman” however, leans heavily on it’s comic book origins and the character’s primary message of hope and forgiveness. His fights are primarily concerned with keeping the citizenry out of harm’s way and avoiding as much collateral damage as possible. Gunn is also not afraid to delve into the humorous and silly side of Superman. (Supes taking time out from a battle with a giant fire-breathing monster to save a squirrel is one of the film’s many highlights). For example, there is no way Krypto should work as well as he does. Gunn even includes that cape, but what could have been over-the-top silly turns into an often charming and often hilarous character arc.
Like all of Gunn’s films, the cast is stacked, with Corenswet bringing the best incarnation of Superman to the big screen since Christopher Reeve in 1978. There is no doubt Superman is a tough dude, but Gunn and Corenswet give you just as much of the Man as they do the Super. Clark has doubts and makes mistakes, but forever believes in the inherent goodness of the people he’s been sent to protect. That often puts him in unnecessary danger, but just as often his faith is rewarded, and that’s rare for a comic book movie nowadays.
Brosnahan is an excellent Lois Lane, an intelligent and intrepid reporter who’s not afraid to ask the tough questions, even when the interviewee happens to be Superman. Brosnahan and Corenswet have a crackling chemistry that lights up their exchanges on screen. It’s easy to see why these two characters fall in love with each other. Hoult’s Lex Luthor is a treat to watch. This is the first film that leans into Luthor’s stunning intellect. The man is a genius and multi-billionaire, but he’s biggest flaw is his belief that Superman, an alien, is stealing his spotlight. This jealously and anger inform everything Luthor does and, even though he’s aware of his flaws, he finds he can’t help himself.
The other character’s are just as good, just in smaller roles. Nathan Fillion is the perfect asshat as Guy Gardener, an arrogant Green Lantern with a serious natcissistic streak. He’s funny as hell. He also leads a group of heroes known as the Justice Gang, including Isabella Merced’s Hawkgirl and Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, an inventor with a genius intellect that nearly matches Luthor. It’s Gathegi who’s the hidden MVP of “Superman” as his attitude and weaponry make for a charismatic hero. There is also Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) a man who can mutate his body into any mineral he desires. Starting out as a reluctant enemy to Superman, Metamorpho becomes a valued member of the Justice Gang (a name everyone but Gardener hates, by the way).
The action is frenetic but smoothly shot, as is Gunn’s custom, and the special effects are as impressive as you might imagine in a big budget film involving the Man Of Steel. But the amazing thing is how emotional the fights are, especially during the back half of the film. The movie’s battles feel like they have real stakes to them and the results are hard-hitting fights that have you invested in the outcome. Gunn’s brilliance is in how he manages to include so many varied and colorful tones into the film and yet still make it feel like a grounded piece of film. The cast, the story, and the production all come together under James Gunn’s skillful direction to create a superhero film for the ages. Truly an impressive acheivement and a fantastic time at the movies! 5 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!
