Superman

Synopsis: Metropolis’ hero, Superman, has plenty of battles to keep our planet safe. He’s joined in his efforts by girlfriend, Lois Lane and superdog, Krypto.

Superman made his comic book debut in 1938 and followed up with movies and a television series. The modern reboot was in 1978 with the movie Superman starring Christopher Reeves. The Superman franchise went on to have seven theatrical releases starring the character. After subtitled movies like The Quest for Peace and Dawn of Justice, we are back at Superman. I would’ve favored the title Superman: Another Try with a New Guy.

The new guy is David Corenswet as Superman, and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Corenswet follows Brandon Routh and Henry Cavill. I have no opinion on who the best Superman is because the character has so little personality. The new guy is fine. Ms. Brosnahan acquits herself well as his colleague and girlfriend. Like her movie predecessors, Margot Kidder, Kate Bosworth and Amy Adams, Lois is a serious journalist who makes time for Superman’s wooing activities. Flying around in your boyfriend’s arms would be a pretty thrilling date.

As I’m sure you know, Superman has a day job as a reporter at Metropolis’ newspaper The Daily Planet. In this movie, Clark seems to do little at work but sit around the office and talk about interviewing Superman. Lois Lane tells him that she’d like to interview Superman. Clark is hesitant. Afterall, if Lois interviews him then what stories will he write?

The latest Superman is non-stop action that begins with Superman being beaten to a pulp by a metahuman. According to DC lore, a metahuman is any humanish being with some sort of superpower. Superman needs to be rescued. He whistles for Krypto, a super doggo. Krypto comes flying in to save the day, wearing a cute red cape. I am not going out on a limb to say that Krypto will be dogs’ number one costume this Halloween. Anyway…

Krypto flies Superman to his Fortress of Solitude in Antartica. The continent is a good choice if you don’t want to be bothered. And Superman’s icy castle seems inland, far from penguins and their noisemaking. Superman needs a decorator. His hi-tech place is cold and sterile looking. Not one cozy couch or plush carpet. 

Superman has a staff of complaisant robots to tend to his medical needs. As Superman heals, he notes that Krypto has torn up anything he can get his terrier teeth into. The robots say that they can’t control him. But I understand, maybe Krypto has separation anxiety. Or he could just be bored. Antartica is hardly a hospitable place to have as your backyard.

Superman’s current woes are being foisted upon him by Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). Some might say that Hoult’s character comes off like Elon Musk. Except, unlike Musk, Luthor is bald. This villain is shameless and rapacious.

For some reason, Luthor is angry that Superman prevented a war between Boravia and Jarhanpur. We see that Boravian troops are lined up with tanks and military hardware at their border with Jarhanpur. Meanwhile, Jarhanpurians are facing them down with hard stares. For some reason children are at the front lines along with adult men. Unless the country is only half a mile deep, those kids should definitely be moved far away from the border.

Lex Luthor, being a sh** person, is trying to whip up sentiment against Superman for being an alien. Even though he is flying around saving children–and a squirrel– from being crushed by monstrous robots, Luthor is trolling Superman. He’s an alien!! He has a secret harem!! Luthor broadcasts relentlessly. Just like in real life, people turn against the decent human/oid. It made me wonder why Superman doesn’t ask himself if these people are really worth saving.

Director James Gunn adds his signature irreverence, used to great box office effect in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, to this Superman. Like those movies, the plots aren’t memorable. But if you like your comic book movies with humor à la Guardians or Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder, Superman 2025 delivers.

Honestly, the biggest star of the movie isn’t any human or alien, but an AI-created dog. Krypto steals the movie. He might be ready for his own franchise; with a cameo from Superman. 

Movie Loon’s Movie Review Shortcut:

Grade:  B-

Cut to the Chase:  Good for DC fans, okay for non-believers.

Humor Highlight:  Bradley Cooper as Superman’s dad, Jor-El