Minor spoilers ahead!
My relationship to the character Superman has been pretty slim being an avid Marvel over DC advocate. The only exposure I had was the infamous “Arrowverse” on the CW Network, where characters such as The Flash and Supergirl ruled the screens. Any connection to those stories was marked by nostalgia and network television budgets. I enjoyed those shows as a casual fan, which meant I came into this film with fresh eyes, having not read any Superman comics or seen any of the other movie versions.
First of all, the casting department knocked it out of the park. A common debate with actors who portray superheroes is whether or not they act both the hero and their secret identity well, but rest assured, that is not a worry here. David Corenswet was very believable as both Clark Kent and Superman, bringing confidence to the hero while not forgetting the character’s humanity.
Not to be forgotten, the supporting characters were also incredibly cast. Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan, was one of the best parts of the film in my opinion. With a wit as sharp as her pen, this character was an electric presence in every one of her scenes. And of course, it wouldn’t be a James Gunn film without a fight scene needle drop. In “Superman,” that honor goes to Mr. Terrific, who has a dynamically choreographed fight to the song “5 Years Time” by Noah and the Whale.
The story Gunn highlights in “Superman” is simple but timeless. Instead of showing the character’s origins, the audience is thrust into the middle of the action, introducing a character who already knows what he is capable of. Kent struggles with a world where hatred of those who are different runs rampant, and the fight that he fights is just as much social as it is physical. Some critics have argued that this social fight makes the film “too woke,” but I would argue that it is just the story that needs to be told right now.
In a world where billionaire villains like Lex Luthor create distrust and strife among the masses, Gunn chooses to showcase a Superman who saves a squirrel from a falling building and who babysits his cousin’s destructive pup. Kindness is his superpower, even more so than his Kryptonian DNA. What makes him a hero is not his powers, but his willingness to use them for the good of the world. “Superman” made me leave the theater feeling hopeful, inspired to create change for the better, rather than feeling like there was nothing I could do about the negativity in the world.
In the end, the core message of this film is one of the human experience. That in a world so divisive and mean, being kind and hopeful might just be the most powerful thing of all. Sure, this Superman story can be a little outdated or old-fashioned, but to quote Phil Coulson, “Sometimes people might just need a little old-fashioned.”
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of The Torch.