This Superman says “golly.” And I love him for it.
James Gunn’s Superman is unapologetically corny, cheerfully sincere, and more than anything, refreshingly hopeful. It’s also exactly what the character, and honestly, the genre, needed.
We’ve been living through a dark age of superhero storytelling, where every cape comes with a traumatic backstory and every hero broods under the weight of their world-saving responsibilities. But Superman opens with something different. Kindness. And then it keeps delivering it, scene after scene, until the crowd around me started to believe in good again.
David Corenswet gives Clark Kent a humble, gentle strength that never comes off as weak or naive. His Superman isn’t powered by cynicism or revenge. He’s powered by decency. Whether he’s shielding innocents from debris or trying to calm down a kaiju-sized monster instead of vaporizing it, there’s a sense that he’s doing it because it’s right, not because it’s cool or dramatic or will generate applause. And yet, you can’t help but cheer anyway.
The red trunks are back. The cornball dialogue is back. So is the upbeat musical theme, the Daily Planet banter, and the crowd-pleasing dog with a cape named Krypto. And yes, it all works. Because this movie isn’t trying to convince you that Superman is relatable. It’s reminding you that he’s aspirational.
Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is sharp and ambitious, but also emotionally grounded in a way we haven’t seen in a while. Her chemistry with Corenswet is natural and warm. They feel like partners. Not just romantically, but as two people who believe in making the world better, even if they approach it differently.
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is slick, manipulative, and terrifying in that modern tech-bro way. He doesn’t want to just defeat Superman. He wants to dismantle the very idea of Superman. He weaponizes media, manufactures consent, and creates chaos in a suit and tie. It’s topical, it’s unnerving, and it’s very effective. The stakes here aren’t just explosions or alien invasions. They’re belief. Who do people trust when the truth can be twisted in an instant?
That’s what gives the movie its emotional weight. Superman isn’t fighting for the planet. He’s fighting for an idea, that one good person can still make a difference. That compassion isn’t weakness. That helping someone just because you can is still worth doing.
The movie also introduces a wide roster of DC heroes and supporting characters. Some of them feel like quick cameos. Others, like Mr. Terrific, feel like fully-formed scene-stealers. Edi Gathegi absolutely owns every moment he gets. Hawkgirl and Metamorpho don’t get quite the same spotlight, but their presence adds texture to the world Gunn is building. You get the sense there’s a real universe here, with stories worth telling, not just a checklist of future spin-offs.
Not everything lands. The dialogue occasionally slips into Wikipedia-speak. A few side quests feel more indulgent than necessary. And there’s at least one over-the-top monster fight that doesn’t really serve the story beyond giving the CGI team something to stretch on. But here’s the thing, the movie never forgets what it’s about. Not for one minute.
The theme of the film isn’t buried under layers of self-aware snark or moral ambiguity. It’s written in the sky, just like the iconic S on Superman’s chest. This is a movie about choosing kindness. About doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. About inspiring others to believe in a better world.
Gunn frames Superman not as a god or a soldier, but as a man trying to help. A man who chooses mercy when he could dominate. Who listens more than he talks. Who believes that there’s always another way, and that it’s never too late to take it.
It’s easy to be jaded about superheroes right now. But this movie reminded me why I fell in love with them in the first place. Not for the powers. Not for the spectacle. But for the simple, powerful idea that even in the worst moments, someone might still step in and say, “It’s going to be okay.”
That’s Superman. And for the first time in a long time, the movies get it.
Thanks for reading AlexisSemder.com — where fandom meets journalism! I’m Alexis Semder, an indie media journalist sharing fan-first takes on superheroes, sci-fi, fantasy, and all things pop culture. Whether you’re here for reviews, deep dives, or the latest rumors, you’re in good company. Let’s get nerdy!
