This review of writer/director James Gunn’s 2025 Superman movie is divided into three sections: the good, the neutral, and the bad.

The Good:
Audiences are finally treated to a Superman reboot that dispenses with an origin story, jumping directly into the main narrative without bogging it down with unnecessary exposition.

Of all the Superman films that have been made, this is the one that best captures the spirit and feel of the comic books. It’s unabashedly playful and imaginative, yet the stakes are also serious and real.

It is a breath of fresh air to have a Superman who’s fun again. After years of stories deconstructing the DC Universe, it’s a relief to get back to a Superman who embodies simple kindness and decency. Who faces the complexity and cynicism of the modern world with heroism and humanity.

The supporting characters, such as Mr. Terrific and Green Lantern, are highly entertaining but also serve a purpose. They don’t just seem shoehorned in by a studio looking to build out its franchise, but actually have functions that further the story. Their presence enhances, rather than detracts, from Superman’s own.

The Neutral:
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the actress Rachel Brosnahan playing Lois Lane. Her performance is fine and even somewhat nuanced. But she doesn’t fit either the traditional look nor the traditional no-nonsense style of the character, which can be jarring and take the viewer out of the story.

Krypto the Superdog harkens back to the days of DC Superman comics when they were still being written for a younger audience. Gunn includes the character for laughs and, to a degree, succeeds. However, in comparison to the dog character of Cosmo in Gunn’s previous film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the gag simply isn’t as funny.

Actor Nicholas Hoult’s portrayal of Lex Luthor is a welcome change from Jesse Eisenberg’s obnoxious and neurotic take on the character in the previous Zack Snyder movies. This Luthor is truly a malevolent villain, attacking Superman in his most private and personal places as well as tarnishing him in the public eye. As with Lois Lane, the issue lies less with the actor’s performance and more with the strangeness of casting someone in the role that is not in keeping with the source material. Virtually every portrayal of Luthor in the comic books is that of an older, scheming, middle-aged man. Hoult exudes a youthfulness and impulsiveness that seem to be at odds with these established characteristics, leading to a degree of cognitive dissonance that detracts from immersion in the story.

The Bad:
While it’s understandable to make Ma and Pa Kent relatable, middle-America figures, this film takes it to another level. Whereas virtually every other adaptation portrays these characters with a quiet dignity and wholesomeness, this film goes overboard with showing off their poor, rural bona fides. They are overweight, shabbily dressed, and speak with thick drawls. It’s overdone and detracts from the established canon.

Additionally, while Gunn’s lighter take on the material is a welcome change from the grimness of recent DC comic movies, it fails to evoke the number of laugh-out-loud moments found in the Guardians of the Galaxy. As much of a good time as this movie is, it doesn’t quite reach the level of Gunn’s best work.

In Summary:
Superman 2025 is a blast. It throws the viewer directly into the story and doesn’t let up throughout its over-two-hour runtime. It features likable heroes facing overwhelming challenges, forcing them to rely on one another to overcome the cynicism and ruthlessness of their opposition. It returns Superman to his traditional status, as an upholder of goodness, and does so with levity and playfulness. But most importantly, this film reminds us that Superman’s true power lies not in his might but in his humanity, his vulnerability, and his ability to inspire.

4 out of 5 stars

When Superman is drawn into conflicts both abroad and at home, his actions to protect humankind are questioned, and his vulnerability allows tech billionaire and master deceiver Lex Luthor to leverage the opportunity to get Superman out of the way for good. Will the Daily Planet’s intrepid reporter Lois Lane, together with the aid of Metropolis’s other metahumans and Superman’s own four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help Superman before Luthor can completely destroy him?

Starring: David Corenswet; Rachel Brosnahan; Nicholas Hoult; Edi Gathegi; Anthony Carrigan; Nathan Fillion; Isabela Merced
Directed by: James Gunn
Written by: James Gunn