The anticipation for Superman is real.
As superhero movie geeks entered the cinema, there were two burning questions on their minds.
Would David Corenswet be able to wear the cape convincingly? Or would he live up to the “Shein Henry Cavill” memes?
Secondly, and perhaps most importantly: what would Marvel Studios’ former golden boy, James Gunn, bring to the table?
I am pleased to write that after years of Zack Snyder’s dark and broody Superman, James Gunn breathes fresh air into a sorely needed new DC Universe.
If you loved Guardians of the Galaxy, Gunn brings his signature quirkiness and humour to Superman. While the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise teeters on unhinged chaos, Superman offers a balanced blend of humour, heart and gravitas.
The opening minutes of Superman illustrates the new vibe perfectly. We see Superman, three years into the job, suffer his first defeat. As he lies in the snow, we already feel the weight of an uphill battle. But before we can even dwell on this shaky start, in comes Krypto.
Krypto aka Superdog aka the scene stealer who immediately injects lightness into every scene. Suddenly, we’re giggling at the ridiculous sight of a superhero trying to get help from a canine who is more interested in slobbering him with affection.
And honestly, it’s not hard to feel affection for Corenswet’s Superman. Corenswet has brought his own approachable spin to the beloved character.
Corenswet’s Superman is almost naively optimistic. He espouses kindness. Even in the heat of battle, he pleads with his enemies that they can still do good.
This optimism is not new to Superman – it’s one of the hallmarks of his character. One that has been missing for a long time in the DC universe.
Similarly, he has a strong sense of right and wrong. The difference is that rather than a condescending righteousness, Corenswet’s performance conveys a genuine desire to do good. This desire is so strong that he cannot justify killing bad guys and he makes the time to save even the tiniest of victims.
There are more hints of Gunn’s vision for a nostalgic yet modern DC universe. One of them is the costume. Moving away from the slick suit from the Snyderverse, Corenswet’s Superman dons the red and blue that’s closer to Christopher Reeve’s original – with slight modern alterations.
There’s no better time for this version of Superman to burst onto screens. Given the state of the world (which is not so subtly alluded to throughout the movie), Corenswet’s Superman delivers a respite from the doom and gloom. A reminder about humanity should look like.
Superman, as Gunn says, is ultimately a story of America. An immigrant trying to eke a meaningful new existence, hindered by xenophobia and maniacal figureheads.
On that note, I’m undecided with how effectively Nicholas Hoult plays Lex Luthor. Yes, Hoult’s Lex is still arrogant, scarily intelligent and ruthless. However, he also gives off high school bully vibes rather than the evil tech genius we know Luthor for.
This is no more clearer than in scenes when he’s using his soldiers to fight Superman. High tech exterior aside, I felt like I was watching teenage boys jamming the buttons on game controllers. While some might argue that this highlights Luthor’s jealousy where Superman is concerned, it comes off as impulsively adolescent, to me.
This discussion point aside, Superman is a strong opening chapter to what Gunn has called Chapter 1: God and Monsters. I am excited to see where his vision takes us in the DC Universe.
Superman is out in cinemas Thursday, 10th July.