Throughout the 2000s, there has been countless films about superheroes. Most of them just end up feeling like different genre films whose protagonist happens to have a logo and live in a shared.
Superman is proudly a superhero film with every fibre of its being – it had me smiling almost non-stop for its entire runtime with feelings of hopeful optimism lingering long after I left the cinema.
Every character in the film feels like they have just jumped off of the page of a silver age comic book. The plot is insane yet earnest and human at its core.
While there are many fantastic parts to Superman, it all works so well because of the portrayal of its titular character.
The Big Blue Boy Scout At His Absolute Best
There have been countless different versions of Superman on screen and every one of them has been different.
Christopher Reeve’s version of the character was the perfect American hero; Tom Welling gave us a Clark Kent that felt far more human in Smallville; Henry Cavill portrayed a stoic god that was ultimately detached from humanity.
Tyler Hoechlin’s version of Clark from The CW’s Supergirl and Superman & Louis is probably the most well rounded version of the character we’ve seen in live action but was often inconsistent and hampered by budgets.
Overall, every onscreen version of the character has been slightly off. They have nailed parts of the character but something is always missing, or rather, something was always missing.
Until now- David Corenswet IS Superman.
He is perfect as every part of the character- even behind the scenes he embodies the kindness, empathy and good heart that defines the character.
Corenswet entirely commits to the philosophy that defines Superman and in so doing delivers a performance that just is Superman.
He can stand against an army in one scene then spend the next saving cats from trees because all he wants is to do good and help people.
When he sees that someone is in danger, even a squirrel, he cannot help but intervene to help them regardless of the consequences.
By the twenty minute mark of the film you will fully understand this Superman’s guiding philosophies and will be on his side no matter what, smiling along as Superman does good for goods sake.
Punk Journalist, Meet Professional Hater
Louis Lane leads the b-plot of the film and, just like Superman before her, she is a perfect reflection of the comic book source material.
Rachel Brosnahan pulls off Louis’ punk rock military brat attitude, journalistic thirst for truth and care for her friends alongside a sense of justice that could even rival Clarks.
And it all works perfectly!
Previous versions of Louis, such as Amy Adams version from Man of Steel, have always portrayed her as a super competent, quick witted journalist but Brosnahan is the first to truly capture the energy that sets Louis apart.
On top of that, Brosnahan and Corenswet may have the best romantic chemistry I have ever seen in a superhero film.
Like all the best stories about the couple, this film has both characters as active parts of the plot against the professional hater, Lex Luthor.
I’ll sound like a broken record here but Nicholas Hoult plays a Lex Luthor that is straight off of the page.
Lex has often struggled in adaptations due to his motivations being about having the most money and power.
And while Lex does want to be powerful and rich, he moreso just wants to be the best. He views himself as an almost-godly figure who has hard worked for everything he has. This develops into his real core motivation for this film.
Lex HATES Superman.
The hate and envy is to a genuinely absurd level- the film knows that and so plays it perfectly.
Everything Lex does to seize power is just to prove he is better than Superman and it is fantastic.
This all comes to a head in the climax in a brilliantly funny, tragic and absurd scene that works perfectly thanks to complete commitment from Hoult.
All three members of the main cast are now the definitive film versions of their characters and I cannot wait to see more of them in the future of the DCU.
A Shining, If Slightly Overstuffed, Cast Of Side Characters
Beyond the titular character, Superman introduces a frankly absurd amount of characters which makes the viewer feel like they have just been dropped right into a living, breathing DC Universe.
However, some characters do end up a bit underdeveloped because of this like Hawkgirl, Isabela Merced, but it isn’t the end of the world.
The film gives you just enough of each character to be interested in them and promises that you will be able to see them again in the future of the DCU.
There are some side characters that do get more focus like the lovable accidental womaniser Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), a Daily Planet journalist and true ride or die for Louis and Clark.
But the surprise standout side character is definitely Mr Terrific (Edi Gathegi) who is central to the film’s most entertaining and unique fight scene.
While Terrific is important to the plot and is in a lot the second act, I don’t think anyone was expecting him to stand out this much.
His entirely unique fight style paired with his deadpan speech deliver an incredibly fun character unlike any other we’ve seen on film.
I can’t wait to see more of him in a future project, perhaps a Justice Gang show or even something based around his comic team The Terrifics.
Action Straight off The Page
Some of the trailers for Superman received criticism for ugly and offputting cgi as well as some comments about Superman looking funny and distracting while flying.
I don’t get these criticisms at all.
The film has a stylised look that you don’t really see in comic book movies not directed by James Gunn and it makes the film feel like a comic.
The colours are bold, the hits are impactful and some of the monsters and CGI moments look a bit cartoonish but that is by design not by mistake.
The flying scenes are unique and feel weighty, building up the power and legend of Superman. He does look a tad silly but he is meant to, it’s the same logic behind the controversial trunks.
Superman doesn’t take himself too seriously and embraces being a dork because it’s comforting to children and more importantly, it’s just who he is.
The action is fun and comic booky. Some people online may be put off by it looking different but I think they will warm up to it.
The sense of momentum in many of the fights is a defining highlight that gives every hit a feeling of impact and makes the fights feel so weighty and engaging.
Gunn has shot fights like this before in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 and The Suicide Squad but it is on another level here in Superman.
A World Of Promise
While Creature Commands was technically the first project in the DCU earlier this year, Superman is the true kick-off point for this universe.
This film had to deliver the promise of a whole new universe to general audiences while shaking off the negative associations of the previous DCEU.
That is a daunting task but Superman has absolutely nailed it.
I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the DCU, especially as James Gunn has stated that every project will have a unique tonne rather than trying to have a consistent universal tonne.
The next movie in the DCU is 2026’s Supergirl which will be the first project in the universe not directed personally by Gunn and I for one can’t wait to see it.
Superman is a triumph of a comic book film that absolutely nails the character of Superman.
The focus on kindness, compassion and just trying to be good is what defines the character and defines this film.
Superman is the most important superhero film since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame as it kicks off a new cinematic universe but even more importantly because of its themes and messages.
The film is unapologetically optimistic and it makes the audience want to be better, kinder and nicer people.
Because that’s what Superman would do.
Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Features Editor and Head of Podcasting.
Fourth-year Journalism and Politics student.
Primarily focus of Politics, Technology, Gaming and Pop-Culture
