James Gunn resuscitates the DC universe with a sincere and uplifting take on the man of steel. A vibrant, all-smiles showcase of David Corenswet’s charm in the face of off-kilter humour and clashing studio priorities: franchise-building is still the aim of the game.
Superman is back. In a box-fresh DC universe, director James Gunn goes full-on comicbook: there’s wide-eyed optimism, Supes’ trunks and hair curl return, as does his charm as a larger than life boy-scout-come-alien. He’s been dormant for a while, replaced by a neck-cracking anger machine, but as of now, our kind-hearted do-gooder has returned to Earth.
After The Flash shook Warner Bros. confidence in DC Comics, Gunn set in motion a total reboot: his Superman was to be free of any baggage. The resulting film is, by design, very James Gunn. It’s foremost a creative showcase, a spectacle-first extravaganza that’s best enjoyed with popcorn and something fizzy.
We meet David Corenswet’s Superman in much the same way John and Martha Kent do: crash-landing into the Earth, jettisoned from some unknown place. We’re not in Kansas this time, but the Arctic, three years into his tenure as the Man of Steel. A snappy opening text (think Blade Runner) gets us up to speed: Superman has lost a fight to Hammer of Boravia, a gold-plated mech who’s after him for ending the Boravia/Jarhanpur war.
His trusty dog, Kypto, similarly superpowered, comes to the rescue with a collection of ‘Superman Robots’ that heal Kal-El in the Fortress of Solitude. It’s a clear departure from past entries. Gunn’s Superman is at first weak – internal bleeding is new – but he rejoins the Hammer fight regardless. He’s a hero, injuries be damned.
If he had a moustache, Lex Luther (Nicholas Hoult) would surely be twirling it. As ever, Lex is behind Superman’s recent setbacks, a billionaire baddie that conjures a different kind of fear in the age of Musk. Hoult plays him with the confidence and swagger of a child seldom told no. Hellbent on killing Superman, it’s when Lex discovers the Fortress of Solitude that everything changes.
As superhero stories go, it’s rather formulaic. Gunn’s priorities as DC studio head stand in conflict with his director/writer role and the needs of a shared universe take precedence over crafting a solid film. Devoting time to spin-off characters like Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Hawk Girl (Isabela Merced) and Mr Terrific (Edi Gathegi) mar our tale of a Kansas farm boy turned hero with sequel baiting.
The bumbling Clark Kent, Superman’s alter ego, loses out the most. Corenswet’s take on Kal-El is robust and good-natured – echoing Reeve’s boyish portrayal – yet his Kent falters. There isn’t enough time to stuff him in. It’s Rachel Brosnahan, still in Midge Maisel mode, that shines most in The Daily Planet. She’s given a lot to do, like traveling into a pocket universe to find Kypto, though Margot Kidder is still the ultimate on-screen Lois.
The shadow of Donner’s film looms large, then. The tagline ‘you’ll believe a man can fly’, which fit that movie’s idealistic style so well, could be switched out here for ‘you’ll never believe this man is flying’. The CGI wipes out any romance from those up, up and away scenes.
Despite existing in a film where the plot could be scribbled into a paper napkin, Corenswet proves a worthy Superman. He’s naturally charismatic and feels at ease in the role. His dynamic with Krypo wins the heart as nothing inspires emotion quite like a man and his dog flying at supersonic speeds. The further Gunn veers into franchise building territory and teenage humour, the less we get from Superman himself. At times, he feels like an accessory in his own movie.
There’s a palpable sense of hope in Superman. When Gunn’s powers converge on making a well built movie, we’re swept off into a different world, one that reminds us why Superman is so important. It’s his CEO persona that blights a film that otherwise has every ingredient to succeed: a knock-out lead in Corenswet, a beloved character with almost ninety years of history, and more money than Lex Luther himself.
- Superman is in cinemas from July 11.
