Shadows on the Wall

Superman

dir-scr James Gunn
prd Peter Safran, James Gunn
with David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Sara Sampaio, Maria Gabriela de Faria, Beck Bennett, Wendell Pierce, Vincent D'Onofrio, Neva Howell, Frank Grillo, Bradley Cooper
release US/UK 11.Jul.25
25/US Warners 2h09

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James Gunn brings his earthy humour to this umpteenth reboot of the Superman franchise. There are signs that he was going for something original, with terrific character beats that are sharply played a committed cast and a scene-stealing digital super-dog. So it's frustrating that the film ultimately falls back into the usual formula of effects-heavy action involving mass destruction and superpowered angst. So it never manages to be thrilling.

It's been three years since Superman (Corenswet) emerged to help keep Earth safe from less benevolent meta-humans from other planets. And he has just seen his first defeat in battle, a clash carefully orchestrated by the angry, tech-savvy Lex Luthor (Hoult). To fight back, Superman enlists the Justice Gang: genius Mr Terrific (Gathegi), sassy Green Lantern (Fillion) and feisty Hawkgirl (Merced). Lex counters with his ruthless goon The Engineer (de Faria). The question is what Lex is really up to and what is a distraction. Maybe Superman's journalist girlfriend Lois Lane (Brosnahan) can find out.

Amid the narrative wrinkles, things progress in a fairly linear fashion, continually jeopardising Superman with Lex's wildly destructive methods. This includes locking Superman in an inter-dimensional pocket universe prison, where he shares a cell with the elemental Metamorpho (Carrigan). So a big chunk of the action takes place in a boring dark digital setting. Actually, most scenes rely on the excellent effects rather than the far more involving characters or story.

Corenswet plays up Superman's humanity, punching the central theme about his identity as an alien sent on a mission but raised by salt-of-the-earth farmers (D'Onofrio and Howell). So Corenswet's strongest scenes are alongside Brosnahan's engagingly whip-smart Lois. Hoult also shines as Lex, never flinching in his sadistic rage. Gathegi gets several scene-stealing moments. And comic relief is ably supplied by Fillion's borderline ridiculous Green Lantern, Gisondo's reporter Jimmy Olsen, Sampaio as Lex's selfie-snapping squeeze Eva and Krypto the enthusiastic super-pooch.

Topically, the script nods to corporations that warp politics to their own aims, using media to spin false information. But this is really a story of nature versus nurture, as several characters must make decisions that go against what they think they are meant to be doing. This at least gives us something to ponder as we chuckle at witty touches peppered through virtually every scene. So the bristling energy keeps us entertained, even if much of the visual whizzery feels rather predictable. So the movie is fun but never surprising.

themes, language, violence 8.Jul.25

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