For a character that’s been around for nearly 100 years and has been reinterpreted and re-contextualized in countless ways, people sure do have strong opinions on what a definitive Superman is. Is he the embodiment of the American way, a metaphor for the importance of immigrants, an indestructible god that should be feared, or just a guy who doesn’t realize that underwear goes on under the pants? Basically what I’m getting at is that the character means different things to different people, so it’s hard to say if one interpretation is more valid than another. Maybe you like your Man of Steel a little more dark and brooding. That’s okay, and now it’s your turn to say something respectful instead of something completely unhinged.

But if there’s one guy I probably trust to know his stuff about comics, it’s James Gunn. The writer/director was one of the best minds working in the MCU with his fantastic Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, and he’s already kicked off his run with DC Comics pretty well with The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker and Creature Comandos. But this movie is where all the chips are down. This is the launchpad for a whole new cinematic universe, whose future almost completely relies on this being a success. Not only that, but it has to re-introduce the character to a modern audience that may have only experienced the darker side this type of character can inhabit. And even though I said many interpretations are valid, I gotta say, this Superman feels a lot like the one I grew up with.

Superman 2025 brings the eponymous character back to the character’s cornerstone of truth and justice with a colorful, often outlandish reintroduction that feels ripped straight out of the Silver Age of comic books. It’s zany and littered with good intentions, but also maintains the era’s heavy lack of subtlety. By forgoing an origin story, the film throws you right in the middle of a world with a lot happening in it, and at times it can be a bit overstuffed with its world building, side-characters and surrounding narratives. And while a lot is being thrown at the wall, a good amount of it stuck for me, culminating in a fun if a bit messy time that attempts to reaffirm Superman as the beacon of hope many of us remember him as.

Three years into his journey as Superman, Clark Kent has a lot on his plate. He’s dating his coworker Lois Lane, he’s getting involved in international incidents and he’s trying to look after an unruly superdog. But when his reputation and public opinion begins to suffer at the meddling hands of Lex Luthor, Clark must learn to become his own man and fight for what’s right in a world that could use a little more kindness.

And that’s the simplified version of it. There is a lot being thrown at you and, to the uninitiated, it might be a bit overwhelming. It really feels like you’re picking up a comic book in the middle of a run, because you are only given very brief mentions of Superman’s origin while some of the holes are filled through some very direct dialogue. It’s a bold move, even though this character is known by so many, but I think it works out fairly well. It does make some emotional moments feel a little tacked on, like Clark’s relationship with his Earth parents, as well as forcing the film to rely on heavy expository dialogue to connect the dots. Meanwhile there’s things like pocket dimensions, fortresses of crystal, cloning and interdimensional imps that are just kinda thrown at you and you just gotta accept that that’s the kind of world this is. The foreplay is basically non-existent, but I kinda liked that. It allows the story to get a lot weirder and more comic booky from the get-go, rather than starting from ground level and building its way up. Superman is not the only superhero in this world, nor is he the first, which is super unique for these movies, even though it can make the story feel bloated at times.

Luckily, the cast is nothing short of fantastic, with everything from the leads to the supporting roles feeling perfectly suited for these iconic roles. Of course, a lot of the film’s success had to hinge on David Corenswet’s take on the last son of Krypton, and I think he does a solid job. It’s definitely a bit closer to the Christopher Reeves characterization, but there’s a goofy earnestness to Corenswet’s performance that still gives it a bit of uniqueness. He really exemplifies that boy scout mindset, while showing a vulnerability to the character I haven’t seen in forever. Dare I say that this is the most human Superman has felt in forever. While I don’t think this is a career defining performance like an RDJ in Iron Man, I’m quite happy with our new Superman. And by his side is Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, who is as much an integral part to the plot as she is a love interest. I think these two have great, earnest chemistry that manages to be both tender yet prickly at times as they still try to figure out how to make this relationship work. The scene between the two of them in Lois’ apartment is great, managing to balance why they work so well together and why their differing views on the world might not make their union possible. But their budding love is palpable, really injecting a healthy dose of romance into the superhero genre that sometimes forgets its characters aren’t just smooth-crotched Barbie dolls. 

But a hero is nothing without his villain, and Nicholas Holt’s Lex Luthor is every bit the obsessive, neurotic hater I was hoping for. While the exact reasons behind his hatred for Supes is a bit unexplored or surface level, Holt’s unrelenting jealous rage grips the scene whenever he’s on screen. He’s a straight up bastard and I love it, especially when he’s essentially shouting fighting game combos to one of his lackeys to take down his enemy. Other standouts include the entirety of the Justice Gang, with Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern and especially Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific, who may just see an uptick in popularity after this movie. Despite my narrative issues with the film, I think the cast is an absolute homerun and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for them next.

But let’s talk about those narrative issues. As stated before, there’s a lot going on here and there’s a lot of ideas and themes to unpack. If I had to pick out the core idea of the film, it’s the drive to do good in a world where some people argue some issues are black and white while others are a bit more gray. The biggest reflection of this is Superman constantly trying to stop the invasion of a foreign nation, parallelling a very real and very talked about global issue happening today. The issue is that the film tries to be both a reflection of global politics and a Saturday morning cartoon, and the juggling doesn’t always work. Alongside that, you also have thematic elements like governments controlling the actions of metahumans ala Captain America: Civil War, through both Superman, the Justice Gang and Luthor’s manufactured “heroes”. Then there’s the drive to be more than what your parents envisioned for you, which leads into some pull between Clark’s biological and adoptive parents. And then there’s kaijus and imps and robots all mixed into it as well, but not everything feels equally as cohesive. Things go from being as simple as “be kind to each other” to more complex world politics reflective of our own time at a moment’s notice. But those more “complex” moments are only complex in theory, not so much in execution. The intentions are definitely in the right place, but in the end, the film doesn’t manage to say anything meaningful about most of these ideas, leading to big moments of emotion that don’t entirely feel earned. I think a film can manage to have themes of those with money directing public hate towards immigrants to achieve their own goals and an internet rage comment center entirely run by monkeys, but it’s gonna take a bit more narrative consistency to make it work.

Yet the fun of the film definitely keeps this thing going, from high-energy action sequences to trademark James Gunn needle drops. A lot of the action is bright, poppy and loaded with flare, but I do think the way it’s shot can sometimes be a detriment. This is the same cinematographer that’s worked on two of the Guardians films and The Suicide Squad, but also shot The Flash, and unfortunately, I see a little bit of those same issues from that film in this one as well. Visuals will sometimes have this rubbery, uncanny look to them that I think could be skirted by if some shots were just structured a different way. There’s some shots where way too much focus is put on the characters moving through the scene, often being the focal point of the shot, like Superman flying towards the screen. I don’t know, these shots, coupled with the effects, just sometimes look wonky to me. But not every burst of action is like this, as there’s moments like a battle on a baseball field that are presented in such a fun and energetic way. Overall, I’m happy the film decided to get a little weird and out there with its visuals, because it truly feels unlike any kind of Superman film I’ve seen before.

When I left the theater, I knew I definitely liked this film, but didn’t outright love it. Its kickstarting of a brand new universe presents countless opportunities to branch off in the future, but at times it can feel like a hindrance to fully establishing the character the film is supposed to be about. Superman does remain the centerpiece of Superman, but the drive to load this film with so many possible thematic takeaways does make the man of steel’s journey a bit scattershot at times. But if you’re a fan of James Gunn’s usual style, this film is nothing if not fun, anchored by a great cast and a solid directorial style that mostly knows when to lean into goofy comic book weirdness and grounded, human moments. I probably would have loved a slightly stripped back version of this that didn’t overwhelm itself with too many ideas, but I still think this is a solid start. “Kindness is the new punk” certainly resonated with me, and if you don’t have a heart of kryptonite, it just might do the same for you.

RATING

METROPOLIS ICED TEA

Ah, the city of Metropolis, where insurance includes kaiju coverage and skyscrapers fall down faster than they’re put up. You must need a strong drink to get through a day there, and that’s where this drink comes in. Modeled after the Long Island Iced Tea, this multi-liquor cocktail packs a man of steel-level punch while offsetting the strength with some some sweet fruit flavors. And to make it as iconic as the boy in blue (and red), we’re going to be layering the cocktail to match Superman’s iconic color palette. A good, strong drink has always been my kryptonite, and if you can relate, this may just be the drink for you.

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4oz vodka
• 3/4oz tequila
• 3/4oz white rum
• 3/4oz gin
• 3/4oz blue curacao
• 3/4oz raspberry liqueur
• 3/4oz lemon juice
• Top: Lemon lime soda
• Garnish: Lemon peel

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a shaker, add the vodka, tequila and raspberry liqueur to a shaker and shake with ice.
2. Strain into tall glass.
3. Clean out your shaker, then add the remaining ingredients and shake with ice.
4. Fill glass with ice, then slowly pour the cocktail on top of the red mixture.
5. Top with soda.
6. Garnish with lemon peel.