Annlyel James 
James Gunn gives DC Studios the hope it needed with his Superman movie.
To say it’s been a while since I’ve seen a good DC movie other than Matt Reeves’ The Batman is an understatement. The last DC movie that brought me any joy was 2019’s Shazam. It was a fun take on the idea of a superpowered character like Superman housed within a teenage boy. The film had heart, a good soundtrack, and it left a huge smile on my face. Since then, it’s just been miss after miss, with each movie becoming more ludicrous and uninviting than the last. Now, the world has finally gotten a chance to see James Gunn’s Superman, the first movie of the new DC Studios, and for the most part, the film soars.
SUPERMAN SOARS
The movie is best when there’s an action scene happening or Superman gets to express how kind and selfless he truly is. It reminds audiences why Zack Snyder’s stoic take on the character was such a disservice to the beloved hero. Nicholas Hoult is also, lowkey, the MVP of the film. He fills every scene with raw animosity towards the caped hero whom he despises to the core. Hoult’s unbridled hatred for Superman shines in the film’s final third act, leaving me not only impressed but wanting to place him on a pedestal for one of the best comic book movie performances in recent memory. David Corenswet also manages to embody the goodness and naivety of Superman in a way that’s endearing and refreshing to see. And the rest of the cast does a pretty good job as well.
SUPPORTING CAST
Rachel Brosnahan feels like a reporter on a mission who seems constantly surprised that she’s in love with the effortlessly charming Superman. Edi Cathegi’s Mr. Terrific deserves so much more screentime in future projects because he is truly outstanding in this film, and Isabela Merced does a great job as the fierce Hawkgirl.
Despite these great performances, the story unfortunately doesn’t live up to the same level of enjoyment. The humor is all over the place. Sometimes it’s funny, and then there are other times when the jokes don’t quite land. The editing is wonky and yanks you from story beat to story beat in ways that can sometimes be jarring, and the music never feels truly epic and memorable in a way that Hans Zimmer and John Williams’ scores managed. As many others have said before me, my feelings for the film are decidedly mixed.
THE FUTURE OF DC
I appreciate certain aspects of the film and understand why many Superman fans hold it in high regard. However, I didn’t leave the movie feeling compelled to watch it again, despite its impressive action scenes. That being said, James Gunn has done something not many people expected to see for a long while: he made a decent Superman movie with heart, hope, and joy. And honestly, in a time when DC Studios needed a film that was at least more enjoyable than Black Adam, it’s nice to know that they can still make good comic book movies set in the DC Universe that don’t have anything to do with Batman. Here’s to hoping that Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is even better next year.
James Gunn’s Superman is now in cinemas from Warner Bros.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
