James Gunn’s new Superman (2025), stars David Corenswet (a ridiculously charming rising star known for his recent roles in Pearl, Twisters, and Netflix’s Hollywood and The Politician) in the titular role, alongside Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. This Superman movie cuts right into audiences’ hearts, bringing forth spades of laughter, joy, stark political commentary, and classic superhero/comic-book fun.
Superman (2025) does itself a lot of favours in bypassing the laboured Superman origin story, instead giving the audience a well-established Clark Kent-Superman who faces troubles at home, abroad, and in love, as his relationship with an already wised-up Lois deepens. The film dives straight into the action-packed, morally-charged conflicts and struggles the titular hero, we already know so well, is grappling with, and wastes no time drawing the audience into the unique, enchanting superhero world Gunn has created.
Gunn’s Superman feels fresher thanks to its lack of bloated origin story
Superman takes a brave and brilliantly blatant approach towards its political commentary. It holds nothing back in terms of reflecting prominent and timely social, moral, and political issues in its’ plot and key conflicts, with little left to the imagination in the politically apt dichotomy between Superman and those he defends versus Lex Luthor and his league of corrupt political leaders and governments. The parallels always feel appropriately blatant however, after all, Superman is, at his core, connotative of moral goodness, kindness, courage, and standing up to fight for justice and good in the face of evil. So, it is entirely pertinent that, in this film version, he would proudly stand up against tyranny to defend the defenceless.
Corenswet’s Superman, much like Christopher Reeve’s, is the people’s hero and genuinely heroic; his good deeds and superhero-ness make you want to cheer! The audience revels in his heroic actions and actively celebrates with joyful, childlike pride when he prevails. James Gunn manages to reignite this often overlooked key ingredient to a good superhero film, by giving the people what they want: a comic-accurate Superman who we universally and wholeheartedly root and feel for, centred in a movie which unsubtly evokes the powerful, earnest and heroic goodness at the core of its original mythos.
Superman tastefully reflects its comic-book origins through, not only its intent on projecting an image of pure hope, courage and wonder in its titular hero, but also through a self-awareness of its need to be a bit silly and corny. Other modern superhero films often fall at the first hurdle in trying to take their hero story too seriously. Superman does no such thing. Just as he achieved with the unconventional but truly hilarious Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, Gunn embraces the silly, dorkiness of Superman to the max. The film puts that beloved, corny comic-book nostalgia at its forefront, with even specific shots of Superman being deliberately framed and lit to resemble classic comic style imagery.
Corenswet’s performance as Superman also actively leans into the character’s charming dorkiness. He excels in the role, bringing to life all the charisma, stubborn morality and endearing dorkiness found in Superman and Clark Kent. His palpable on-screen chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois is perfect, as they immediately draw the audience into their consuming, yearnful relationship that is believably contemporary and complicated. Lois’ character is interesting in of herself. Beyond being Superman’s love interest, she is given her own compelling subplot and textured depth of character, she even gets fleshed-out character intimacy with other key characters, such as teaming up with Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), as well as her more grounded team work with her journalist colleagues, both in and out the office.
Excellent performances are the film’s north star
Beyond the excellent performances from Corenswet, Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult, who is unsurprisingly brilliant as Lex Luthor, there are several other characters that steal the show. Including Mr. Terrific, who delivers compelling screen presence throughout the film, thanks to his characteristically nonchalant charm, wit and comedic timing.
As well as, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardener aka ‘Green Lantern’, with his stupid haircut and fragile ego serving as comedy gold – the recurring busts of collective laughter from the audience, in my screening anyway, serves as further proof that the film’s self-aware dorky, daftness is a massive success – and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, who is fun, but perhaps underused in this film specifically. So here’s hoping for greater screentime for her in the future DC universe. Her key moment of enacting revenge against a certain villainous character in the film is particularly satisfying nonetheless!
But, how can we forget the film’s biggest star. . . Krypto (the dog). Just as Green Lantern left a wave of comedic reaction from the audience, so too does the unruly, idiotic yet endearing Krypto. His chaotic, erratic behaviour, quite typical of your average untrained dog, but not especially useful for a superpowered one, makes him accidentally helpful and genius at capturing both Superman and the audience’s hearts, making him a new movie dog favourite of mine and arguably the best part of this Superman film.
Visually, Superman looks incredible. The CGI and visual effects are consistently neat, high-quality and well-crafted, with all the film’s wacky creatures and costumes always looking odd and goofy in the highest definition and purely because of their otherworldly nature, not due to sleezy visual effects far too common in modern blockbusters.
The suitably quirky, wackiness of the creatures Superman and the Justice Gang engage in battle with (while dressed in equally wacky costumes) also enhance the film’s nostalgic, comic-book feel. Gunn masterfully leans into the silliness aspect of most superhero lore – such hero adventures are supposed to be fun, playful and rather daft whilst simultaneously driving a valuable message of morality into the audience’s conscience. That’s what makes the really good guys like Superman so interesting. Superman wears its heart on its sleeve and is wholeheartedly self-conscious in its use of generic, corny action sequences, heroic shenanigans, and good versus evil antics, polished up by a cast of very pretty faces and a plethora of truly hilarious moments.
Superman is a visual spectacle
This Superman provides that irresistible giddy feeling of childish joy and satisfaction in seeing a classic superhero fight against evil and tyranny to let goodness and justice prevail. A simple, but forever relevant message, which the world needs now, perhaps more than ever.
So if there’s one thing we should take away from Superman, it’s that maybe kindness should be the new punk-rock.
