Rating: 4/5
Spoilers
James Gunn’s Superman shines with promise among a densely oversaturated genre.
There’s an unshakeable, undeniable feeling sitting in the air of cinema for the last five years. The musk of stale ideas and unlikeable leads, drowning in the drivel of messy plotlines and rushed special effects work. Dozens of movies are demonstrating these characteristics, all being mass produced for the “joy” of any given movie audience. Although superhero movies may make us feel super, their consistent poor performances since the release of Avengers Endgame (2019) does little to quell the new feelings that rise up in moviegoers: anger, disappointment, and worst of all, boredom.
Superhero fatigue, ladies and gentleman, is very real. I’ve been an active observer of the decline of a cinematic trend that has been at the forefront of visual blockbusters for well over a decade. I move into every superhero movie with fatigue, carrying a general sense that our “superhero” will be more consumed with poorly edited fight sequences and cringe-worthy dialogue rather than providing insightful character and inspiration as to why being a superhero is worth it in the first place.
In the back of my mind, I was hoping that Superman would prove me wrong. I was hoping it would stand out as an exception. I’m happy to announce that the back of my mind has some seriously good foresight.
Granted, I’m far from the first to weigh in on James Gunn’s latest hit, but it’s essential to this movie that the inspiring messaging should hit me at some point. So here it is: this is a superhero movie to get behind. From the heart engrained in every character’s arc and dialogue to the morally strong themes present throughout the entire picture, Superman (2025) is the exception that breaks my superhero fatigue. I’m glad it was.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen my superheroes demonstrate their strong values not simply on the surface-level context of being a “superhero,” but through showing who they are as individuals and why that makes them a hero. Superman as a character very much falls into the latter. He’s relentlessly charming, charismatic, and simply a good person. He struggles with the reality of his public perception as a man from outer space and how that factors into how he chooses to live his life. In the end, he recognizes that Earth is his home and that he feels and faults just as much as anyone. He constantly saves everyone he can throughout action sequences and prevents as much collateral damage as possible, giving us a hero who practices what he preaches. For his opening movie, Superman’s arc centers around conflicts within his identity and moral core, eventually leading to him overcoming his fears of feeling out of place. It lends itself to an endearing factor that is really well done.
Superman is instantly established as a relatable figure, a welcome return to form for superhero movies. While the writing for the character is on point, a lot of Superman’s character comes through David Corenswet, the man in the tights himself. He demonstrates a strong foundational knowledge of the character, presenting himself as a down-to-Earth kid who grew up in rural Middle America rather than a cold, confused alien desperately pleading for someone to punch. He feels to a great degree, flipping the script on criticism toward Superman adaptations in the past.
The rest of the cast all put in strong performances as well, most notably Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luther and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Superman’s main villain and love interest, respectively. The chemistry that our lead has with both characters is rich and dynamic. Both challenge Superman on his beliefs in safeguarding people and using his powers beyond human laws and capabilities. They act as foils in their own right, although the difference lies in that Lois knows who Superman is, rather than Lex only focusing on what he is. Both characters and actors are equally interesting in their own right.
The story itself is well done for the most part. While most of the film’s praise lies in the dynamics between characters and their performances, the plot of Superman lends itself as a fantastic introduction to James Gunn’s superhero world. Lex Luthor creates conflict in foreign countries and within his own city, Metropolis, all in an effort to eliminate Superman. Superman spends the film battling against Lex’s plots and schemes, while at the same time battling the realization that his alien homeworld sent him to Earth to be a warmonger. While the only clear end goal may be to “stop Lex Luthor at all costs,” it works in a way that allows the audience to understand the established status quo that we’re dropped into, and what kind of powerful figures and villains we might see in the future.
With that in mind, some of the plot beats throughout the movie are rushed. Superman battles Lex Luthor not just in his world, but in a “pocket dimension” that houses Luthor’s masterminds and prisoners alike. The pocket dimension is home to a massive black hole that seems to present no danger to our characters. How this pocket dimension operates, and how it fails to rip apart the planet after it’s released into Superman’s world, reveals a messy plot point simply added to increase the stakes of the film. A black hole is thrown right on top of the ordinary world when the pocket dimension rips open, and yet it seems to be just as easily handled as any one of Luthor’s minions. It’s lazy, evidently. A plot device to manufacture stakes and create visual variety.
The visuals, for the most part, are very solid. They only cease to be solid and return to the all familiar sloshy liquid of superhero movies during the fight sequences. The camera zooms out in order to get as much of every fight as possible. This lends to the CGI being pushed to the tenth degree, which results in poor moments for the film. Our characters move abnormally fast– even to Superman’s standard– and look unrendered and choppy in certain areas. The greatest example of this is toward the end of the film, where Superman takes on Luthor’s army of flying suits. It’s choppy, with uninspired fight choreography to push the envelope further.
Despite these points, the film’s heart and core messages have hit me at a level that I can appreciate for years to come. Superman is an inspired choice from James Gunn. It was natural to start his DC universe on its titular character, but turning away from common superhero stereotypes of the last few years was a welcome sight. Superman demonstrates strong character relationships, much like Gunn’s other superhero films. I suppose this is why fans of the director say that the “Gunn doesn’t jam.” Still sounds like celebrity worship to me.
Nolan Sheehan is a Junior Writing for Film, Television, & Emerging Media major who is finally cured of their superhero fatigue. They can be reached at nsheehan@ithaca.edu