It takes mere seconds for James Gunn’s Superman to cast a spell on its audience. The film is not just an introduction to a brand-new Superman but to an entire new DC Universe, and with a very clever, very exciting, very intense collection of sentences that appear on screen, it’s instantly clear how different and resonant this film is about to be. The information sets the tone, stage, and stakes in moments, as each statement reverberates with intensity and anticipation. And that’s just the first 60 seconds.
Simply put, we’ve never seen a Superman movie like this before. It’s a weird, wacky joyride, packed with humor, action, and emotion. There’s spectacle to spare, unbridled optimism, and a delightful unpredictability that ties everything together, even when there are a few minor issues.
One of the best choices James Gunn, who both writes and directs, makes is starting his story in the middle of the action. So, for example, not only is Superman, played with charismatic innocence by David Corenswet, already well-established in this world, so too is his rival Lex Luthor, played with dynamic intensity by Nicholas Hoult. We know these characters, we love these characters, and by dropping us right into this larger world, Gunn lets us bask in their glory from the very start. We don’t waste time with elaborate origins or drawn-out introductions. Superman is good, Lex Luthor is bad, and let’s freaking go.
The same immediacy applies to Lois Lane, played by the cool and confident Rachel Brosnahan. Right from the beginning of the movie, Lois knows her boyfriend, fellow Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent, is Superman. That means the film dives right into what that dynamic is, how it impacts their lives, and if it’s even sustainable. It’s also through Lois, Clark, and her knowledge of his secret identity that the film’s plot is driven. Before the events of the film, Superman took it upon himself to stop a war overseas. However, his lack of political tact has made him a target both of worldwide governments and of the media. He’ll have to deal with repairing his perception while also getting to the bottom of how, and why, this conflict is happening.
Which may sound a little boring, but Superman is anything but. Another fantastic choice Gunn makes is giving the film a true comic book quality. We’re used to seeing DC superheroes in grounded stories like Batman Begins or with more serious tones, such as Man of Steel (both of which I love, by the way). But Gunn’s film is often goofy or silly. Random things can and do happen all the time. Giant monsters pop up. Superman has a bunch of robots working for him. Lackeys in bucket hats hang on the beach. Another team of superheroes, the Justice Gang, flies around and cramps Superman’s style. And, of course, he’s got a dog named Krypto, who is superpowered himself but also something of a menace.
Krypto is probably the most important character of that bunch but he never overstays his welcome. He’s just another way for Gunn to showcase this unique, dynamic Superman: part fun and funny, part grounded and human. We can all relate to the love of a pet, and when we see Superman doing that too, it shines a fresh new feeling onto the character and world.
As one might guess, as the story continues to develop, we realize much of it stems from the mind of Lex Luthor. Luthor is, without a doubt, the highlight of the film. This Lex is a super rich, super genius as usual, but he also carves out a very unique niche in this superhero tapestry. He’s not superpowered, but, through his successes, he has figured out and built super things that could only happen in this universe. With seemingly every scene, and thanks to a few meaty, diabolical monologues, Lex’s character grows and changes the entire nature of the film, driving the film’s noteworthy balance of character, story, and action.
Lex is also at the center of a bombshell revelation about Superman’s past that flips the entire movie on its head, both narratively and thematically. Superman soon finds himself not just trying to figure out how to be a hero, a reporter, a boyfriend, and a son. He finds himself trying to figure out how to be human and what his destiny actually is. That journey, coupled with the plot’s increasing complexity, leads to an unforgettable third act filled with hugely satisfying payoffs.
Another key component to the film is its music. Gunn is known for his love of pop music and high-energy, song-driven soundtracks, but Superman isn’t that. It does have a few choice needle drops here and there, but, for the most part, it’s an orchestral score that finds a nice medium between tech-infused rock riffs by John Murphy and the unforgettable themes of John Williams. It’s thoroughly engrossing at each and every moment.
And while each of the three leads is excellent in their own ways, lots of Superman’s success also comes from the small roles. A few of the standouts include Booksmart’s Skyler Gisondo, who plays a hilarious, mysterious, magnificent version of Jimmy Olsen. For All Mankind‘s Edi Gathegi turns in a commanding, star-making performance as Mister Terrific. Sara Sampaio is perfectly flighty as Lex’s girlfriend, the unforgettable Eve Teschmacher. And Saturday Night Live‘s Beck Bennett is deliciously aloof as sports reporter Steve Lombard. They’re just a few of the people that give the film lots of energy and surprises in each and every scene.
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