Superman: Not so super man…
Directed by James Gunn
“Hey, buddy. Eyes up here.”
Superman
Superman is constantly facing franchise reboots, and DC’s latest one is written and directed by James Gunn. Coming in with his experience in the world of comic books and superheroes (e.g. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. I, II, & III and The Suicide Squad), Gunn puts his spin on the age-old tale and takes a different route than Superman’s most recent reboot, Man of Steel (2013). Unlike the dark, downbeat atmosphere of the last film, Gunn’s universe is pervasively colorful, more humanistic, and saturated with the message of hope. Having said that, hope is unnecessary if the Superhero you trust to save you can barely save himself from grandiose threats. Our introduction to Superman shows him being defeated by a metahuman called “Hammer of Boravia” and subsequently being rescued by his super dog Krypto. This is vastly different from the indestructible Superman interpreted in Snyder’s rendition. So, Gunn’s Superman loses sometimes and that is okay, because a hero needs obstacles to overcome and grow. If only Superman was a regular hero and not considered one of the most powerful beings on Earth, then Gunn’s version would make sense.
The writers give us less exposition and backstory concerning Superman and we rely on foreknowledge about him or his planet Krypton. Instead, we are refreshed with what we already know: Superman is powerful, he loves Lois, and he is here to help humans. Though, all these statements are never fully realized as prominent issues arise. With an entertaining story, the film struggles with weak dialogue, poor character development, and surface-level relationships. Visually, the colors were vibrant with bright hues which made the film fun to look at. The writing could be improved upon since it seemed to go for the slapstick, witty comedy found in Guardians of the Galaxy. Unfortunately, this type of comedy suffers on account of underdeveloped, or well-established characters.
Nevertheless, let me digress and factor in the human side of his character. Nerdy, disheveled, Clark Kent appears as the reporter from the Daily Planet who is as normal as any Metropolitan civilian. David Corenswet did a great job portraying the human side of Superman, yet the super side was too weak. With normal parents and an obscure music taste, Clark Kent is a normie poster child. It would have been great to get to know more of him as such, but he is swept away as Superman for majority of the film. Lois Lane is introduced as the inquisitive reporter that fights for the truth. Rachel Brosnahan, as Lois, was refreshing as she brought a fiery rendition of the character to the screen and seemed compatible with Corenswet. Though, her characteristics are never fully realized because of the competing subplots of the film. Clark and Lois’ dynamic also should have received more depth. Instead, their relationship felt like a throwaway, with uncultivated connections between both characters. Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor was absolutely electrifying and deserved to have a more in-depth exploration on his hatred of Superman.
Gunn’s interpretation of Superman’s ability seemed weakened in favor of posturing him as a superhuman, versus an alien from a foreign planet with unlimited power. Even with something as prominent as Superman coming to save Lois, we get a reversal where Lois saves him. Which again is not an issue, except when it seems to be a pattern. On multiple occasions, Superman is saved by someone else. In nearly all his battles he is overpowered or in need of saving by his super dog Krypto, humans, and other metahumans. These metahumans are inclusive of Hawk Girl – who only screams – Green Lantern, and Mr. Terrific who was not so terrific at the beginning but over time he proved to be memorable and surprisingly useful. Contrastingly, Snyder did a great job at portraying Superman’s abilities but failed in crafting a great Clark. A great rendition would have been a merge between both interpretations of the character. However, Gunn did a stellar job at honing a facet of his nature whenever he would stop mid-fight to save the most vulnerable.
Maybe my qualms with this version are isolated and the writers may have tried to use these mechanisms of weakness to connect him with the audience. Superman fell short of what I expected and had loads of potential to be something greater. Struggling with a weak script, character flaws, and surface-level relationships, it could be better. Despite all this, it was still an entertaining film that is sustained by the outstanding work of its cast and cinematography.
The Island Cinephile 
