Writer/Director James Gunn has revealed his new version of Superman which is the next big cog in his stewardship of the DC cinematic universe.
“Superman” omits the original story and focuses on a world where Superman (David Corenswet) is already established and already at odds with Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult).
Having faced a defeat at the hands of Ultraman; Superman finds himself at the center of a controversy for stopping an aggressive military action between two nations. While morally it was the right decision, the fact that he did it without sanction has become a political mess and Luthor uses this fear to further his agenda.
His actions also place him at odds with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and further complicates their relationship.
When a message from his parents is stolen and leaked to the media, Superman becomes an outcast as many fear he is plotting a subjugation of humanity.
This in turn allows Luthor to enact his grand plan and even puts Superman in doubt with his allies The Justice Squad.
What follows is a FX laden adventure that is filled with interesting characters and visuals and mixes comedy, humanity, and action.
The decision to play Superman as a more vulnerable and insecure character was a bold choice and Corenswet does a great job of showing a character with an awkward charm and flaws. The supporting cast is great and Hoult is a perfectly evil Luthor.
The film at times seems to go overboard on FX as while I appreciated seeing comic style segments that would have been difficult if not impossible to portray in the past; there were segments that just seemed too much and distracted from the story and characters.
Thankfully the majority of the film works well and the cameos and credit scenes set a nice tone.
While some flaws hold it back; the film ultimately provides a fresh and entertaining take on the character but one that some fans may struggle to embrace.
3.5 stars out of 5
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