Man of Steel, heart of gold
Forget Zack Snyder's grim, dark, depressive Man of Steel from 2013. With this peppy course-correction, writer-director James Gunn (the man behind the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy) gets back to Big Blue basics by remembering Superman is kind of a square.
He's optimistic and earnest and maybe a bit naive. He says things like, 'No can do,' and 'What the hey, dude?' He's unironic.
Gunn's new version is bit retro, nodding to its hero's old-timey comic-book roots and the 1978 Richard Donner-directed film with Christopher Reeve.
It also feels of-the-moment, particularly in its emphasis on the Superman story as an archetypal immigrant experience.
And while Gunn is seeding in some serious messages about power and responsibility, the delivery system is defiantly goofy. As a superhero movie, Superman is a bit scattershot, a bit crowded, a bit rushed, but it's always fun.
Gunn forgoes an elaborate origin story — don't we all know it? — and instead hurtles right into the action. We first meet Superman (Twisters' David Corenswet) mid-fight, as he crashes to the ground, wheezing and spitting blood. He may be super, but he can be hurt.
After getting support from Krypto, his adorably idiotic foster dog, and some fussy robots, Superman gets into more city-saving heroics in Metropolis. Then he's off to the newsroom of The Daily Planet, where his buttoned-up alter-ego, Clark Kent, banters with Lois Lane (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Rachel Brosnahan).
There are plot sidelines involving American politics, global conflicts and social media disinformation, but the story's basic showdown is between Superman and villainous tech-bro Lex Luthor (played by Nosferatu's Nicholas Hoult, who's clearly working with an Elon Musk kind of vibe).
Considering Gunn's propensity for wacky shenanigans — yes, we're thinking of the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special — the action sequences sometimes feel a little generic. There's a comic emphasis on Superman's particular skill at making sure big things don't fall on small things — at one point he saves a squirrel, carefully flying it to safety. But overall, the battle scenes are hampered by predictable beats and indifferent CGI, for allies and enemies alike.
The exception is the crowd-pleasing Krypto. Like so many good dogs, he's enthusiastic but not particularly competent, and this canine personality manages to shine through even though he's completely computer-generated.
Gunn also does well with the human stuff, and that, of course, includes Superman. While his detractors label him 'the alien' (he is a refugee from another planet), Superman ends up being more human than a lot of humans. He's certainly more human than that sociopath Lex Luthor.
The casting is crucial. Corenswet mixes his character's superpowers with relatable vulnerability and leavens his moral uprightness with wry self-deprecation. He's matched by Brosnahan.
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Lois and Superman have a lot in common, and not just that blue-black hair so often seen in comic book characters. Their scenes crackle with back-and-forth screwball energy, and the two leads manage to convey a credibly grown-up romantic relationship, something of a rarity in superhero movies.
Gunn also cuts the potential for corniness with a fair amount of cynical wisecracking from the supporting cast. Jimmie Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), of all people, is a bit smarmy, and Superman's superhero colleagues seem at first like a bunch of slacker screw-ups. Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion with an epically bad hairdo), for instance, is mostly preoccupied with making the name 'Justice Gang' happen.
Jessica Miglio/Warner Bros. Pictures
Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet play off each other with screwball energy and, in the process, create a credible romantic tension in Superman.
Thankfully, the movie works as a standalone story, but its corners are packed with minor characters, including Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific and a brief cameo by John Cena as Peacemaker.
For years, the DC franchise has been straining to keep up with the ever-expanding MCU. Gunn seems to be setting up possibilities for future instalments, and with Superman's combo of sincerity and silliness, heart and humour, this might just be a way forward.
alison.gillmor@freepress.mb.ca
Alison GillmorWriter
Studying at the University of Winnipeg and later Toronto's York University, Alison Gillmor planned to become an art historian. She ended up catching the journalism bug when she started as visual arts reviewer at the Winnipeg Free Press in 1992.
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Winnipeg Free Press
13 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Man of Steel, heart of gold
It's a bird. It's a plane. It's… a really sweet guy. Forget Zack Snyder's grim, dark, depressive Man of Steel from 2013. With this peppy course-correction, writer-director James Gunn (the man behind the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy) gets back to Big Blue basics by remembering Superman is kind of a square. He's optimistic and earnest and maybe a bit naive. He says things like, 'No can do,' and 'What the hey, dude?' He's unironic. Gunn's new version is bit retro, nodding to its hero's old-timey comic-book roots and the 1978 Richard Donner-directed film with Christopher Reeve. It also feels of-the-moment, particularly in its emphasis on the Superman story as an archetypal immigrant experience. And while Gunn is seeding in some serious messages about power and responsibility, the delivery system is defiantly goofy. As a superhero movie, Superman is a bit scattershot, a bit crowded, a bit rushed, but it's always fun. Gunn forgoes an elaborate origin story — don't we all know it? — and instead hurtles right into the action. We first meet Superman (Twisters' David Corenswet) mid-fight, as he crashes to the ground, wheezing and spitting blood. He may be super, but he can be hurt. After getting support from Krypto, his adorably idiotic foster dog, and some fussy robots, Superman gets into more city-saving heroics in Metropolis. Then he's off to the newsroom of The Daily Planet, where his buttoned-up alter-ego, Clark Kent, banters with Lois Lane (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Rachel Brosnahan). There are plot sidelines involving American politics, global conflicts and social media disinformation, but the story's basic showdown is between Superman and villainous tech-bro Lex Luthor (played by Nosferatu's Nicholas Hoult, who's clearly working with an Elon Musk kind of vibe). Considering Gunn's propensity for wacky shenanigans — yes, we're thinking of the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special — the action sequences sometimes feel a little generic. There's a comic emphasis on Superman's particular skill at making sure big things don't fall on small things — at one point he saves a squirrel, carefully flying it to safety. But overall, the battle scenes are hampered by predictable beats and indifferent CGI, for allies and enemies alike. The exception is the crowd-pleasing Krypto. Like so many good dogs, he's enthusiastic but not particularly competent, and this canine personality manages to shine through even though he's completely computer-generated. Gunn also does well with the human stuff, and that, of course, includes Superman. While his detractors label him 'the alien' (he is a refugee from another planet), Superman ends up being more human than a lot of humans. He's certainly more human than that sociopath Lex Luthor. The casting is crucial. Corenswet mixes his character's superpowers with relatable vulnerability and leavens his moral uprightness with wry self-deprecation. He's matched by Brosnahan. Monthly What you need to know now about gardening in Winnipeg. An email with advice, ideas and tips to keep your outdoor and indoor plants growing. Lois and Superman have a lot in common, and not just that blue-black hair so often seen in comic book characters. Their scenes crackle with back-and-forth screwball energy, and the two leads manage to convey a credibly grown-up romantic relationship, something of a rarity in superhero movies. Gunn also cuts the potential for corniness with a fair amount of cynical wisecracking from the supporting cast. Jimmie Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), of all people, is a bit smarmy, and Superman's superhero colleagues seem at first like a bunch of slacker screw-ups. Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion with an epically bad hairdo), for instance, is mostly preoccupied with making the name 'Justice Gang' happen. Jessica Miglio/Warner Bros. Pictures Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet play off each other with screwball energy and, in the process, create a credible romantic tension in Superman. Thankfully, the movie works as a standalone story, but its corners are packed with minor characters, including Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific and a brief cameo by John Cena as Peacemaker. For years, the DC franchise has been straining to keep up with the ever-expanding MCU. Gunn seems to be setting up possibilities for future instalments, and with Superman's combo of sincerity and silliness, heart and humour, this might just be a way forward. Alison GillmorWriter Studying at the University of Winnipeg and later Toronto's York University, Alison Gillmor planned to become an art historian. She ended up catching the journalism bug when she started as visual arts reviewer at the Winnipeg Free Press in 1992. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
‘Superman' aims to save flagging film franchise, not just humanity
Nathan Fillion dons a movie prop ring on the red carpet of the world premiere of the new Superman movie in Los Angeles on Monday. (Etalk) LOS ANGELES — Superman is often called upon to save the world from evildoers, but in his latest big-screen incarnation, he's also being asked to swoop in and save a franchise. James Gunn's 'Superman,' which opened in theaters worldwide this week, is a reboot aimed at relaunching the so-called DC Universe of comic book-based superhero movies, which also features Wonder Woman and Batman. The celluloid efforts of Warner Bros. and DC Studios have been widely eclipsed by Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe -- the world of Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther and the Fantastic Four, who are getting their own reboot later this month. 'Warner Bros. has invested a lot of energy and money in trying to refocus and renew DC Studios, and this is going to be the big release from that,' analyst David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research told AFP. The heavy task falls on the shoulders of Gunn, the writer-director who won praise from fans of the genre with Marvel's 'Guardians of the Galaxy' trilogy. The movie's rollout has already encountered several headwinds, including a right-wing backlash to Gunn's comments on Superman's role as an immigrant, and skepticism from fans of the previous Superman films helmed by director Zack Snyder. Gunn has shrugged off the high stakes surrounding the movie's box office success. 'Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it's not as big as people make it out to be,' he told GQ Magazine. 'They hear these numbers that the movie's only going to be successful if it makes $700 million or something and it's just complete and utter nonsense.' The hype around the movie is real -- the White House even superimposed U.S. President Donald Trump onto one of the movie's official posters with the caption 'THE SYMBOL OF HOPE. TRUTH. JUSTICE. THE AMERICAN WAY. SUPERMAN TRUMP.' 'A diminished genre' Warner Bros. hopes the DC Universe can catch up with Marvel which -- after years of huge successes with the 'Avengers' movies -- has seen more muted box office returns with the recent 'Thunderbolts' and 'Captain America: Brave New World.' Gross explained that superhero films hit a peak right before the Covid-19 pandemic, with box office earnings and audience enthusiasm waning ever since that time. 'It's really a diminished genre,' Gross said. However, the analyst said early buzz for 'Superman' was 'really good.' The film stars up-and-comer David Corenswet as the new Superman/Clark Kent, with 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' star Rachel Brosnahan playing love interest Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as arch-villain Lex Luthor. The story follows the Man of Steel coming to terms with his alien identity as he finds his place in the human world. The supporting cast boasts a selection of other DC Comics characters, from the peacekeeping Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) -- who is scheduled to reprise the role in upcoming TV series 'Lanterns' -- to the mace-wielding Hawkgirl. Gross noted that July 'is the top moviegoing month of the year,' leading tracking estimates to forecast a total of more than US$100 million for the film's opening weekend in North America. 'The story of America' DC Studios however must shake off a reputation for producing mediocre films that did not score well with audiences. The last round of 'DC Extended Universe' films included the well-liked 'Wonder Woman' (2017) starring Gal Gadot -- but also box office flops like 'Shazam! Fury of the Gods' (2023) and the under-performing 'Aquaman' sequel with Jason Momoa. 'The success was mixed, and they were spending a lot of money on some of the new spinoff characters who were not working particularly well,' Gross said, pointing at 2021's 'The Suicide Squad' -- directed by Gunn -- as an example. The last films featuring Superman, starring Henry Cavill and directed by Snyder, were relatively successful for Warner Bros. until 'Justice League' -- DC's effort at recreating the 'Avengers' vibe -- which lost millions of dollars. Fans of Snyder have stirred up negative buzz for the new 'Superman' movie, voicing hope online that the reboot fails out of a sense of loyalty to the previous films. The backlash was further widened after right-wing pundits groaned about Superman's specific characterization as an immigrant, lamenting the superhero had become 'woke.' Gunn addressed the criticism, telling The Times newspaper that 'Superman is the story of America,' with the character reflecting those who 'came from other places and populated the country.' 'I'm telling a story about a guy who is uniquely good, and that feels needed now,' he added. Ultimately, time will soon tell if Corenswet's chiseled looks and Gunn's directorial vision will be the superpowers that DC Studios need -- or prove to be its Kryptonite.
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Edmonton Journal
Film review: James Gunn's Superman walks a fine line between triumph and tragedy
Sometimes, superheroes fight supervillains. And sometimes they fight an even more insidious force — critics. Last week, the Daily Beast broke a studio embargo and released its review of the new Superman movie five days early, calling it 'the final nail in the grave for the superhero genre.' Article content The review was taken down almost as soon as it was posted, but what of it? Are you really going to believe a publication that uses such mortally mixed metaphors? (Nails go in coffins, not graves!) Article content Then the Sunday Times of London leaked a piece that called Superman 'a triumph.' But this was part of an interview with writer/director James Gunn, and an interview is not a review. (Case in point: I was very kind to Mike Myers when I interviewed him about his 2008 comedy The Love Guru, but I subsequently recused myself from reviewing this execrable film.) Article content Article content So what do we know now that the embargo has lifted, the dust has settled, and we're all free to speak our minds? Only that Superman (the movie), much like Superman (the character), operates at the crossroads of hope and fear. It's not as bad as some reviews would have you fear. But it's not as good as Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy movies would have you hoping for, either. Article content On the plus side: excellent casting in even the smallest roles. David Corenswet, an actor mostly known for his TV work, shines on the big screen as the Man of Steel, serving up a cocktail of gravitas, gumption and geniality that makes him a likeable hero, although I question Gunn's need to have him spell it all out so plainly in the film's final act. Show, don't tell! Article content Article content But he's just the tip of the casting call. There's also Rachel Brosnahan as the sassy Lois Lane (whose interview with Superman should be required viewing for journalists), Skyler Gisondo as the boyish Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, a name that will ring in the ears of fans of the 1978 Superman, when Luthor's moll was portrayed by the wondrous Valerie Perrine. Article content Article content Article content There's lot more as well , which brings us to one of the film's biggest problems. It's too busy, and too full of characters who arrive with little backstory and minimal explanation. Article content Gunn has said he didn't want to show baby Superman rocketing to Earth from Krypton, and that's understandable, but the sudden appearance of Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and more — well, it's a lot of characters to keep track of over the film's 129 minutes. (And that's a solid 129 minutes; there are two disappointing post-credit scenes, the second of which will keep you in your seat until the bitter end.)
