Movie Review: Superman (2025)
It has been quite some time since I have bothered to watch a film in theaters. It takes more than another Marvel or Jurassic Park iteration to get me to shell out $40 for tickets and popcorn. Batman, Spiderman, and Superman are probably the only characters I like enough to go and see them in the cinema no questions asked. The first trailer for James Gunn’s Superman had me cautiously optimistic with its fantastic use of the original John Williams theme and the colorful aesthetic.
Now having sat through Superman I kind of wish my expectations had been lower. It was a fun time to be sure, but it didn’t leave me with much. Superman is the cinematic equivalent of shaved ice with syrup on a hot Summer day. Enjoyable and satisfying in the moment, but ultimately just a bowl of water and sugar leaving you hungry for something more nourishing. Indeed this is a problem with a lot of modern films in the action/adventure/comic/sci-fi genre. Older films seemed to be better at blending interesting characters, thoughtful dialogue and challenging ideas into blockbuster productions. Most big budget action movies of the last two decades have been forgettable not only because they have been sequels or remakes, but because they lack substance. Superman falls into this category unfortunately.
Let’s start with the good points though. I thought David Corenswet did an excellent job overall. This isn’t the muscle-bound demigod we got with Henry Cavil. This is a much more Silver Age take thanks to the red trunks, bright colors, and lovable Krypto the super dog at Superman’s side. Superman has a very simple moral compass that gets challenged when he tries to stop a war and gets embroiled in politics. His arc is further complicated by the reveal that his Kryptonian parents may not have had the noblest intentions for Kal El’s life on Earth. Corenswet’s performance makes you really feel Clark’s internal strife. I also loved his down to earth Kansas parents as well as the rest of the cast at the Daily Planet.
The action scenes were plentiful and fun. Supes has some cool feats of strength and some neat uses of super breath and laser vision. He had some great challenges thanks to Lex Luthor having studied Superman so thoroughly. The supporting heroes Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific also were great additions, particularly the latter. Edi Gathegi got done dirty in X-Men: First Class. It was awesome to see him steal every single scene he was in here. Nathan Fillion playing Green Lantern on the big screen is also long overdue.
The movie has an enjoyably vibrant sense of life. For example the Fortress of Solitude with the superbots was a cool place to start the story. Lois Lane brought some depth to Clark’s character without being a buzzkill. Lex Luthor gave us lots of neat sci-fi wackiness with pocket universes, black holes, and other crazy gadgets. At its best moments the film reminded me of All Star Superman, one of my favorite takes on the character (would that they had just adapted that). There are flashes of brilliance in individual scenes and moments. The aesthetic and music alone almost make this worth your time.
The sad fact is that it just doesn’t cohere into a complete picture. Part of the problem is in the film’s pacing and narrative structure. The movie feels like a sequel; so much critical world building and character development has already happened off screen. No, we didn’t need an origin story, but more context for character relationships would have given key story moments more impact. It doesn’t help that Gunn very much continues the Marvel trend of punctuating every single emotional moment with a punchline. Supes and Lex don’t need physical dog comedy or quips interrupting their exchanges (that makes now three different live action film takes on Superman and Lex with no good rapport between them).
The film just lacks substance. Even when it raises interesting questions, such as the propriety of a Superhero getting involved in politics and regional conflicts, it never explores them. Everything is surface level from the villain’s schemes to the hero’s motivations. It is the opposite problem Man of Steel and Batman v Superman had. The latter was bogged down in politics and social context while the former focused on thematic substance at the expense of character, plot, and action. 2025 Superman gets the character and action right but is ultimately way more forgettable than Man of Steel because the film doesn’t feel like it has anything to say. In other words, they over-corrected. They lost what was memorable and effective with Snyder’s vision while trying to fix what he got wrong.
Another visual manifestation of the lack of substance is in the CGI. The action, while fun at times, feels weightless and artificial. It isn’t purely from overuse of CGI either. CGI can be done well. Alita Battle Angel is almost entirely CGI and yet the action scenes have an incredible sense of gravity and physics. 2025 Superman doesn’t quite feel super enough. He spends a lot of the movie getting his ass kicked. Where is the super speed? Where is the freezing breath? How is some robot lady able to 1:1 him, fly faster than him, and almost suffocate him? He may have a Silver Age vibe, but he is not even close in terms of power level.
James Gunn’s Superman is not a grand slam but definitely a solid base hit or maybe even a double, depending on your view and appreciation for sports metaphors. It made money, it was fun, it was well acted and overall well executed. There is however a lingering sense that it ought to have done more. There is a palpable lack of depth when compared to Nolan and Snyder’s work with DC. While they did not always hit their mark both directors always tried to elevate the genre. 2025 Superman makes no such attempt, settling instead for safe, competent, easily digestible entertainment. Gunn is an excellent choice for this approach and given DC’s spotty film history over the last two decades it is hard to fault them for being less ambitious. Supergirl next year I’m sure will be a similar fun time at the theaters that within minutes will zip right out of my memory. I look forward to it.
Grade: B
