Synopsis:
When Superman gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Superman’s four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before it’s too late?
My Thoughts:
To start this off, I need you to know that I have NEVER been excited about a new Superman movie. Ever. I liked the Christopher Reeve ones when I was a kid, and I still like them – the first three are great, and the fourth one is riotously stupid. They’re fun. But even an abiding love for Henry Cavill couldn’t save the Snyder-man series, and I’m 1,000% indifferent to the Brandon Routh one. I never loved the comics, I didn’t like the animated series (although Super Friends was cool on account of featuring the Wonder Twins, unarguably the least cool/useful superheroes in the genre). I saw Superman less because I wanted to than because my partner did and I didn’t not want to.
But I am so glad I did. In fact, we might see it again before it leaves theaters.
Because this movie did away with the one thing that I am SO TIRED OF when it comes to superhero movies – it is neither grim nor gritty. It is bright, fun, and hopeful. Grim and gritty is fine in small doses, and where it makes sense (i.e. NOT SUPERMAN, ZACK SNYDER – WHY ARE YOUR MOVIES SO DUMB NOW). David Corenswet makes a fantastic Clark Kent/Superman, and Rachel Brosnahan is a Lois Lane second only to Margot Kidder. And they actually have pretty good chemistry. They’re a believable couple. And I LOVE that I didn’t have to sit through 100% of Superman’s origin story yet again. There’s only so many times a person should be expected to have to rehash that. Yep, baby yeeted through space from a dying planet. Got it.
Clark’s Earth parents were great. Remember in the Zack Snyder one when his dad was like, “if you have to kill people to do what you need to, then you should definitely do that” (paraphrasing), and Superman did that? Yeah, you’re not getting that stupidity here. These Kents are delightfully loving, empathetic, and peaceful. And so is this Superman. Like, yeah, he fights, but he goes out of his way to ensure that he does so in a way that doesn’t cause unnecessary risk. He is concerned with all life, not just his. He’s wonderful, honestly.
And Nicholas Hoult is predictably fantastic as the human ass-baby Lex Luthor. He sucks, I hate him. And Hoult plays him perfectly.
This version of Superman serves as a very fun reminder that kindness and empathy are paramount in life. In a time where we’re inundated with the message that some lives matter more than others (referring specifically to the fascist hellscape that America is barreling headlong into here), Superman is a solid reminder that no one person has more value than anyone else. We are all just trying to survive, and we are all deserving of help when we need it. Nobody should be a stepping stone for anyone else. I leave you with this dialogue, that I’m sure you’ve seen paraphrased all over the internet by now:
Lois Lane: My point is I question everything and everyone. You trust everyone and think everyone you’ve ever met is, like… beautiful.
Superman: Maybe that’s the real punk rock.
I’d say it definitely is, Supes.
Rating:
I love it. I will be seeing it again, and probably buying it. The world is garbage, and I need something nice now and again to keep me from losing hope entirely.
Superman
Directed by: James Gunn
DC Studios
US Release Date: July 11, 2025
Rated PG-13
129 Minutes
