After months of trailers and immense anticipation, James Gunn’s new DCU is officially underway with Superman, and the big question everyone’s asking is: does it live up to all that hype and meet our expectations? The answer isn’t quite as simple as a yes or no. This Superman marks a dramatic departure from what we’ve seen before, delivering a hero whose humanity takes precedence over his godlike powers, while establishing a promising foundation for DC’s future despite some notable stumbling blocks.
Spoiler-Free Story Overview
Superman provides a refreshing take on the Man of Steel’s ongoing heroic journey without retreading familiar origin territory. David Corenswet’s Superman has been saving Metropolis and the world for the past three years, and everyone knows who he is. This public awareness of his identity creates the central tension that drives the narrative forward.
His very existence has become a significant problem for Lex Luthor, a brilliant evil genius who sees Superman as a threat that must be eliminated. The conflict escalates when Luthor decides to assemble a team of supervillains in his quest to bring down the Last Son of Krypton.
The story weaves together multiple narrative threads: Superman’s ongoing role as a meta-human protector, his complex rivalry with Lex Luthor, and the political ramifications of his very existence in a world that knows superheroes are real. Supporting characters including Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and Lois Lane each play roles in this larger conflict, while Krypto adds both heart and humor to Superman’s personal journey.
What sets this story apart is its focus on the psychological and emotional toll that constant world-saving takes on Superman himself. Rather than presenting him as an invulnerable god, the narrative explores how his restraint and humanity create real consequences that he must face throughout the film.
The plot incorporates several situations that feel highly relevant to today’s world, examining what it means to be a hero in an era where everyone knows your identity and your actions have far-reaching political implications.
A Complete Departure from the Snyderverse
James Gunn took a completely different approach from what came before. We’ve been watching the Snyderverse’s Superman, which was much darker, but David Corenswet’s version is the complete opposite. While Snyderverse superheroes were considered gods worthy of worship, this Superman is seen as a hero for humanity but not worshipped as a deity. He’s viewed more as an alien being than a god, creating a fundamentally different dynamic with the world around him.
What Works: The Film’s Greatest Strengths
David Corenswet’s Perfect Superman
There’s no doubt that David Corenswet’s Superman is perfect. His acting, screen presence, dialogue delivery, and overall aura all scream Superman in ways that feel both fresh and authentically heroic. What makes this portrayal particularly effective is that 90-95% of the time, he’s shown as Superman rather than Clark Kent, which proves to be a perfect creative choice for this story.
DC deserves appreciation for consistently getting Superman casting right, and David Corenswet continues that tradition magnificently. This version presents a Superman whose heroism is secondary to his humanity, making him feel more relatable as his problems feel like real-life struggles rather than abstract superhero dilemmas.
Corenswet’s Superman is more human than superhuman because he holds back his punches, and this restraint leads to significant consequences throughout the story. He faces not only physical challenges but also mental and psychological hurdles thrown at him by Lex Luthor. The film does an excellent job portraying the psychological toll that Superman experiences, making him genuinely relatable to audiences.
Lex Luthor: Evil Genius Done Right
Lex Luthor’s character proves quite strong, especially for comic book fans who’ve long wanted to see Lex as the evil genius. This portrayal keeps the character pure evil without adding any traumatic backstory to justify his actions. His motives are driven entirely by his human nature—jealousy. In this jealousy, he creates a team of supervillains and tries to bring Superman down, establishing himself as a brilliant evil genius who wants Superman gone.
The decision to avoid giving Luthor sympathetic motivation works brilliantly, creating a villain whose evil feels both pure and genuinely threatening.
Guy Gardner Steals Every Scene
Guy Gardner emerges as the most enjoyable character, especially due to his humor. His one-liners and jokes are perfectly timed and work really well. Among all the characters attempting humor in the film, Guy Gardner fills the comic relief role unintentionally well, making every moment he’s on screen a joy to watch.
Technical Excellence
The action sequences are solid, especially in the second half and the climax. If you’re a Superman fan, you’ll enjoy the action and especially the flying scenes, which are absolutely superb. The VFX are excellent throughout, creating believable spectacle that enhances rather than overwhelms the story.
The pacing of the movie remains consistently good—you never feel bored because something is always happening on screen. The movie gives you several great moments, keeping you engaged from start to finish.
James Gunn’s Distinctive Direction
James Gunn has definitely put his own unique stamp on this film. If you watch the movie, you’ll instantly recognize shots that scream James Gunn. There are many creative and unique elements, especially in the camera work.
During conversations between characters, the camera might first show one character from behind, and as the other character speaks, it’ll turn around to focus on them, giving the impression that you’re part of the conversation. Gunn uses several tracking shots, quick zoom-ins, and zoom-outs throughout the film, creating a dynamic, engaging visual experience.
Krypto: James Gunn’s Magic Touch
Krypto proves that James Gunn really nails these types of characters. The super-dog brings fun without even speaking, making him an absolute joy to watch. Gunn’s ability to create compelling non-speaking characters shines through perfectly with Superman’s canine companion.
Meaningful Character Moments
The chemistry between Superman and his father, especially in one sequence, is quite deep and meaningful, adding a whole new dimension to Superman’s character. These emotional beats provide genuine weight to Superman’s journey and demonstrate the film’s commitment to character development alongside spectacle.
What Doesn’t Work: The Film’s Significant Flaws
The Humor Problem
The film’s biggest flaw lies in its overuse of humor. There’s no doubt that James Gunn is famous for his humor and typically uses it quite well, but in this movie, aside from Guy Gardner, none of the other characters’ humor feels fitting.
Guy Gardner fills the comic relief role naturally, but the humor used for other characters feels forced and unnecessary. For example, the way humor was used with Lex Luthor’s girlfriend feels particularly cringey and out of place.
Because of this excessive humor, there were moments that were supposed to be serious but ended up feeling less impactful. The overuse of humor has a negative impact on the movie’s emotional moments, taking away from the emotional weight of scenes that should resonate deeply.
Lois Lane’s Weak Finish
Lois Lane is overall well-portrayed from the start through most of the film. The chemistry between her and Superman is showcased beautifully throughout their scenes together. However, right before the climax, it starts to feel like the writers didn’t really know what to do with her character. At one point, she randomly flies off in a ship, which feels completely out of place and undermines her otherwise strong characterization.
Supporting Characters Fall Short
When it comes to Hawkgirl, you may not even notice her much. There’s one scene where they try to give her some impact, but her yelling “Hawk!” feels genuinely cringey rather than empowering.
If you’re expecting to get a lot of backstory for Green Lantern or emotional attachment to the supporting characters, that’s not what you’ll get. These characters are more like toppings or accessories that don’t add much depth to the overall story.
Emotional Disconnection
One emotional moment that should have been impactful completely falls flat. There’s a scene where a character dies, and it could have been a really impactful moment if there had been more build-up. At the very least, we should have known who that character was. Instead, they show him briefly and then kill him off, which feels rushed and unearned.
That death scene was really important for the movie, but with so little character development, it’s impossible to emotionally connect with it. When a character dies, there should be some emotional investment, but here, the moment feels completely indifferent.
There’s another moment where, as an audience, you get emotionally invested, but then the scene goes nowhere. You’re waiting for Superman to arrive in an action sequence, but he doesn’t even show up. The grand-level action sequence you were expecting simply doesn’t happen, leaving you deflated rather than satisfied.
Predictable Plot Structure
The predictability of the plot presents another significant issue. Aside from one genuine twist, most of the movie is pretty predictable. You can easily guess what’s going to happen next throughout most of the runtime.
While the plot follows a very predictable path, the action sequences help overcome this limitation because there’s always something happening on screen to keep you engaged.
Story Complexity Overload
From a story perspective, the movie throws a lot at you all at once. There are many characters, many story elements, and for someone familiar with Superman lore, it might feel fine. But for a casual viewer, the sheer amount of content can feel overwhelming.
There are many storylines to track: Superman’s meta-human angle, his rivalry with Lex Luthor, and political elements, all of which may seem like too much to juggle. The story doesn’t spend enough time on some elements because it’s so busy trying to explore these various aspects.
The movie incorporates several situations that feel highly relevant to today’s world, though there are moments where things feel rushed. For instance, characters might discuss something and then, in the very next shot, you see that thing happening. It can feel abrupt, creating pacing issues that undermine dramatic tension.
Overall Assessment: A Promising Start
Despite its flaws, there’s no doubt that the movie is quite good. You won’t be bored at all watching it. Superman gives you everything you expect from a superhero movie and marks a perfect start for DC’s new direction.
The film definitely follows the typical superhero movie template, but this template has been working for years, and audiences continue to enjoy it. The overall vibe of the movie is really good, creating an entertaining theatrical experience that satisfies on multiple levels.
You should definitely go watch this movie and enjoy it for what it is. It provides a solid theatrical experience, and it’s genuinely exciting to see the world that James Gunn is trying to build here. You’ll definitely get a great cinematic experience, though if you’re expecting epic, grand-scale moments like we’ve seen in the past, those are somewhat lacking here.
Post-Credits and Future Implications
About the post-credit scenes—there are two, but honestly, you don’t need to see both. Don’t waste your time sitting through credits for minimal payoff. The scenes provide minor setup for future films but offer nothing essential for understanding or enjoying this story.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does David Corenswet compare to Henry Cavill’s Superman? David Corenswet’s Superman is the complete opposite of Cavill’s darker interpretation. Where the Snyderverse presented Superman as a god-like figure, Corenswet’s version emphasizes humanity and relatability while maintaining heroic presence.
Is the movie suitable for casual Superman fans? Yes, though the numerous storylines and characters might feel overwhelming initially. The film provides enough context for newcomers while offering deeper references for longtime fans.
Are the flying scenes worth the theater experience? Absolutely. The flying scenes are described as “absolutely superb” and represent some of the film’s strongest technical achievements that benefit from big-screen viewing.
How prominent is Guy Gardner in the film? Guy Gardner serves as the primary comic relief and proves to be one of the most enjoyable characters, with perfectly timed humor that enhances rather than detracts from the story.
Does the film set up future DCU movies effectively? While two post-credit scenes exist, they’re not essential viewing. The film focuses more on establishing this Superman’s world rather than extensive future setup.
Is Krypto a major character? Krypto brings significant joy and fun to the film without speaking, showcasing James Gunn’s talent for creating compelling non-verbal characters, though he’s not central to the main plot.
How does the humor compare to Guardians of the Galaxy? The humor works well for Guy Gardner but feels forced for other characters. Unlike Guardians’ consistent comedic tone, this film struggles with balancing humor and serious dramatic moments.
Final Thoughts: Solid Foundation Despite Flaws
James Gunn’s Superman succeeds in establishing a new direction for DC that emphasizes humanity over mythology. David Corenswet delivers a perfect Superman performance that captures both the character’s heroic nature and relatable struggles.
However, the film’s overuse of humor where it’s not needed and the predictability of the story prevent it from reaching greatness. The rushed character development and emotional disconnection in key moments limit the impact of what should be powerful story beats.
Despite these drawbacks, Superman provides an entertaining theatrical experience that won’t leave you bored. It delivers everything you expect from a superhero movie while establishing a promising foundation for James Gunn’s DCU vision.
Rating: 7/10 Stars – A good start for the new DCU with excellent lead performance, solid action, and engaging direction, held back by tonal inconsistencies and predictable plotting.
