Review: 'Superman' (2025)

 

Superman

Dir: James Gunn

Prod: Peter Safran, James Gunn

Scr: James Gunn

Pho: Henry Braham 

Leading Players: David Corenswet, Rachael Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult

129 min.

Superman has a dog.

If this seems odd to you, it’s probably because you were raised on the gentle and subdued Christopher Reeve in the super-role, or Henry Cavill’s forbidding seriousness. This is neither of those. It’s all part of a desperate attempt by the DC film studio to reboot their unsuccessful rollout of a DC Extended Universe, which faced diminishing returns in recent years.

Fortunately, they called on writer/director James Gunn to work his magic. Gunn, who created the wildly popular Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, as well as 2021’s successful adaptation of DC’s The Suicide Squad. Gunn knows his comics inside and out, and it shows.

This super-story doesn’t go back over our hero’s unique origin. We are initially given Superman at his lowest ebb, defeated and injured. This is a vulnerable Superman, a relatable and imperfect character that is given life by the excellent David Corenswet. He is still using the persona of Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Planet. He is in a relationship with hotshot journalist Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), who in this film knows all about his secret identity.

But Superman has an enemy. The bald, evil billionaire Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) hates Superman, and seeks to destroy him by any means necessary. He invades his Fortress of Solitude, hacks into his database, and recovers a fragmented message from Superman’s Kryptonian parents – one that makes Superman question his identity and mission.

And he kidnaps Superman’s super-dog, Krypto. The Man of Steel having a pet humanizes him. Corenswet plays him like a regular guy with a big responsibility, instead of some kind of messiah. He leads with his humility, and that makes his performance the more appealing.

The production design is bright and primary-colored, better reflecting the movie’s comic book origins. The action sequences are well-staged, and moments of banter and the necessary snatches of exposition are integrated seamlessly into the film. Subsidiary characters – an obnoxious Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific, and Metamorpho – are rendered in three dimensions and given their due. Importantly, Hoult’s Luthor is completely credible – not played with the sly wit of Gene Hackman, but grounded in an earnest thirst for power and control.

When all is said and done, the result is satisfying and affirmative. This Superman is a fun adventure for kids of all ages.