In Review: Superman – Truth, Justice, and Identity

Synopsis: Superman must reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent. As the embodiment of truth, justice and the human way he soon finds himself in a world that views these as old-fashioned.

The Story

Clark Kent is just three years into living his double life as both Clark Kent and Superman, still struggling to reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human values in a world that questions his presence. Complicating matters further, Lex Luthor, a rising tech tycoon with a sinister agenda, sows distrust by leaking a doctored message from Superman’s alien parents, framing him as a threat to Earth. Taking advantage of the fear this deepfake message spreads, Lex imprisons Superman in a pocket universe. There, Superman shares a cell with an alien shapeshifter who can alter his cells genetically, even transforming his hand into Kryptonite—weakening the Man of Steel. Thankfully, Lois Lane persuades Mr. Terrific and the Justice Gang to help spring Superman and rescue Krypto. Acting on a tip from a source close to Jimmy Olsen, Lois and the Daily Planet expose Lex Luthor’s plot, while Superman, with the Justice Gang’s help, defeats Lex and brings him to justice.

The Acting

James Gunn has probably revived the DC Movie Universe here, thanks in large part to solid storytelling and excellent casting. David Corenswet delivers a fantastic dual performance as Superman, though if there’s one criticism, I would have liked to see a bit more of his Clark Kent. I imagine we’ll get that in future films. The chemistry between Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is superb—everything you’d hope for. The scene where Lois interviews Superman and rigorously questions his every action is brilliantly acted and written; you can easily picture a real journalist drilling down like that. Nathan Fillion is perfectly cast as the Guy Gardner version of Green Lantern, arguably the bluest iteration of the character we’ve seen in the comics. He’s slightly overshadowed by Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific, who plays a pivotal role in the plot by helping Lois free Superman. Nicholas Hoult is truly outstanding as Lex Luthor, embodying the character’s obsession with besting Superman to the fullest. For me, this is easily the best Lex Luthor portrayal on the big screen, and I hope we see much more of Hoult in future DCU projects.

Overall

James Gunn’s Superman film brings the character back to where he should be. Gone is the brooding, sulky version from the Zack Snyder films; instead, we see Superman return to his core beliefs—wanting to see the best in everyone and bring light, truth, and justice to a complicated world. The film’s setup places Superman in a world already populated by meta-humans, adding interesting layers to the story that wouldn’t otherwise be there. If I have one criticism, it’s that at times the pacing feels a bit too fast. For example, I would have liked a slower moment following Lois’s interview with Superman, to let viewers absorb the emotional impact of that scene. Overall, though, the film offers a nice blend of action, drama, and comedy. Krypto, the untrained and ill-disciplined Super Dog, provides some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments. I can’t wait to see where James Gunn takes these characters next—it’s the most fun I’ve had with a DCU movie since the first Wonder Woman.