When the Kriptonite-ian immigrant extinguishes an imbalanced military action, the techno-fascist Lex Luther repositions Sup as a traitor, rogue vigilante, an ‘alien’ with a secret agenda, my brain tweeked on the timely socio-political slant on Truth, Justice and the American Way.
James Gunn’s reboot of the world’s most iconic superhero is radical in presenting kindness as subversion in an age where such platitudes are cultural Kryptonite. And that earnestness without an apology? Well, that’s Truth, Justice and the whole DC universe.
Essentially it’s a movie that is faithful to its comics origin, the visuals bright and frequently chaotic. Though the script feels crowded, it’s held together by constant momentum. In essence the film is about Superman’s refusal to give up hope, even when the world seems beyond saving. I sense an oncoming explosion of the whole DCverse about to rain down on theatre screens, soon.
Metropolis is already buzzing with chaos as giant laser-spewing monsters level buildings like its just another day. In this world office work barely look up from their desks while Kaijus stomps past their skyscraper windows. We are dropped straight into the action. Superhero faces off against a destructive villain unleashed by tech billionaire Lex Luther, with a Muskian odour. Alongside Superman is his untrained but loyal pup, Krypto, their victory disrupts Luther’s wider plans for global domination.
Meanwhile Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and the Daily Planet team investigate from the ground, while a somewhat secretive romance brews between Lois and her mysterious co-workers, Clark Kent. As the stakes rise, Clarke is torn between saving humanity while seeking his place in it.
The director has the audacity to insert to include a Justice gang with a horrible bowl-cut Green Lantern and an under utilised Hawkgirl, but also dares to ask how society would treat an all powerful outsider who prevents war without governmental permission.
In my opinion the movie should be labelled Superboy, a tone that embraces its cartoonish origins, underpants on the outside and all. Gunn’s Superman winks at the audience, but at least it’s looking us right in the eye . In essence the movie is mostly about a guy and an unruly puppy. As supermans go, he may be the least super, taking a lot of beatings for a Man of Steel, but he certainly is the most human.
There’s lots of takeouts, but for me if you’re not a dog person, the movie may not be for you. If you are one, nothing else will matter….Look up! Sit! Stay!…… It’s Superdog… and the guy who owns him, sometimes. The first Superman movie promised you would believe a man could fly. In 2025, Superman ensures you’ll believe a man in tights can have a puppy, albeit a super-puppy, but hey, he’s Superman, so it kind of evens out. It’s not relatable unless the pet has the power to knock the superhero down and bite his ankles. Krypto, the dog with a Superman Cape is the star of the movie- a white blur with heat-vision and an attention span of a puppy on expresso. This is the film’s purest expression of both chaos and love.
At times the movie took my endurance to new heights. It doesn’t have many highs and too many lows for my viewing displeasure. The story is hindered by a weak plot and a narrative that attempts to include too much with a pace that jars the without a breather. Plenty of CGI is deployed for the fighting and flying. Let’s face it, the character doesn’t need reinventing, the comic universe presents him as a human-like alien who likes animals and saves people. The narrative is disappointing, a common pitfall in many comic book movies.
Sure the man-of-the-hour, Superman himself( David Corenswet) has perfect pearlies, shy smile, curl ringlet fronting his luxurious head of hair, wants to do good in the world, but crashes dully to earth with his clunky woodeness and a voice so thin, I’m surprised Lois is attracted to him. Her role lacked the vim and stridency of a woman in control.
Now the villains shone bright, especially the Engineer ( Maria Gabriella de Faria) who knocked it out of the park with her ability to shapeshift and turn her body into machinery using an arsenal of nanotechnology and a venomous hatred for Superman. Surprisingly the entire cast should have been impressive due to to their exceptional past work. The evil henchman, corporate boss Lex Luther( Nicholas Houtt) sparks a modicum of emotion while not displaying enough variety in his vicious character, except for being bald for the entirty of the movie, the only Lex to never, ever don a hairpiece.
Special mention to Edi Gathegi, whose character wins the least fame with a name of Mr. Terrific, is the rising star of future DC movies. Don’t know what his specific powers are but he’s obviously a badass. Probably needs a more comfortable fitting glued-on face mask.
The final act dabbles in cosmic nonsense and pocket universe mumbo jumbo. A sad mixed bag, where it should have been a touchdown, it didn’t work for me. 209 minutes of glimmering goodness dissipated into a two-star classification at best.
