IR Film Review: SUPERMAN [DC/Warner Bros.]
The aspect of Superman is how does one approach to make it specific for a new generation. Like James Bond, every iteration is its own beast fueled by those making it. As the first progression from James Gunn as DC Studios, his “Superman” wants to be edgy but it feels almost too saccharine while pretending to be edgy. It tries to be punk but it tends to pose half the time which is interesting considering "Guardians Of The Galaxy". What this movie brings to mind more than one way is "Super", an earlier comic book movie or sorts that Gunn made. But it is very hard to transmute than into a legacy character. You can see the punk structure there for sure that permeates this.
But that said, all the personalities in this film are different but in the way it functions, this Superman feels closer to "Superman Returns" even in some of its set pieces. Nicholas Hoult tries his best but Lex Luthor is painted as brilliant but still massively insecure. Kevin Spacey did it better. Granted the film tries to start the action later, forgoing origin stories or even introduction. That in itself is great because it doesn't condescend the audience...and Gunn makes the whole thing palpable for the audience by introducing the dog Krypto, which definitely makes sense in the end. But in many ways it becomes more about the dog more than about the man.
Rachel Brosnahan plays Lois Lane but despite one great conversation scene she is not given much to do compared to either Amy Adams or even Kate Bosworth. The big bad just doesn't feel like it should either despite its backdrop. Zod brought stakes (even though that was 9/11 fueled in certain ways) but also the aspect of Jor-El with a certain cameo loses its impact. The best part of the movie (though it it feels more like TV) is Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) but that is because he makes clear what the comic-heavy part of the story which brings in universes actually means. But by going into that world, it seemingly makes the narrative unnecessarily more complicated. And while building the lore in this way takes it in a slightly different direction than it perhaps should, it is not necessarily better Nathan Fillion's Green Lantern is fun but in a completely different tonal space. It is like comparing certain tonal element of David Ayer's “Suicide Squad” to James Gunn's eventual "The Suicide Squad".
There was something a bit off with Gunn's version whereas “Guardians” felt exactly right with the stakes. The question is how much of that was affected by Marvel's development process whereas Gunn is the final word at DC with no one looking over his shoulder as long as he delivers. That is the multi-million dollar question. If “Superman” succeeds it is par for the course but it depends if the tone is a one/off. An aspect at the end of the film speaks maybe to something else but that impact won't be seen for a while. In the meantime, Superman, in this form, seems too bubble gum while trying desperately to be punk and aware, and all the while in a midst of nostalgia without truly saying it is. However that said, that might be what the new generation needs but at times there seems more pouting than necessary. B-
By Tim Wassberg
