"Superman" (2025) Film Review-Up, Up, and, sadly, mostly falls away

If I had truly wished to witness “Guardians of the Galaxy“, I would have stayed home to do so. Instead, I went to the IMAX and took in this newest incarnation of one of the most recognized and adapted superheroes in the DC Universe. **Sigh** Let me be clear here. I am NOT saying this is an AWFUL film. But, I think the degree of overall disappointment I felt after it was over still lingers, and it is giving me serious hesitations about the future of the James Gunn-led DC films.

For this critic, my personal choice for what I consider the definitive Superman film was 2013’s “Man of Steel” featuring Henry Cavill as the titular character, who is also my overall favorite choice of actors to date. Now, granted, while that film was dark, it still painted such a vividly striking portrait of the character, what he strives to stand for, and conveyed a grander mood that I believe befits the Superman for our times.

This stated, the newest exploration sees a much lighter, perhaps a little TOO much so, version of our intrepid Kryptonian that sees him having to face a growing ridicule and fear against and of him, mainly thanks to his arch nemesis Lex Luthor, here played by the amazing Nicholas Hoult, who once more chooses to do everything in his power to upend the hero. This is all fine and well. YET, it’s the manner in WHICH it is all on display that left me desiring a kryptonite cocktail.

The source material may be from the comic book world, but this experience FELT LIKE I was watching a cartoon more often than a serious, even again if more breezy, film. I wasn’t MINDING that the atmosphere was less weighty than “Man of Steel“, but again, it’s when it began to literally feel like the film mentioned in my very first sentence above that caused me to panic and wish to fly away home. There were some moments that were flat out CHEESY to me, and that’s no good.

It was the HUMOR, which honestly for me was SO prevalent that it made me think I was watching a comedy rather than a superhero film. That aforementioned “Guardians” mood, which does NOT suit Superman at ALL, in my opinion. Add into this some very silly monster fights, and a blossoming form of what will become The Justice League that turned one beloved character a completely crass jerk. Even Lois Lane (played marvelously by Mrs. Maisel herself, Rachel Brosnahan) gets morphed into a BIT of a “wonder woman” in the story.

To that latter point, I totally understand and support that Lois is capable and strong in her own right, NO problem. Still, by the time she’s piloting an “aircraft” of a sorts, aren’t we pushing a little too far? I mean, just being honest, she’s not Star Lord, nor is she supposed to be. She’s that determined, no-nonsense, human conscious for her super-powered beau, and THAT works credibly here. But beyond that, and with the treatment of Green Lantern as hinted above, it left me cold.

After all of that, however, there WERE plenty of moments that I DID absolutely enjoy, for instance the appearance of Superman’s always appreciated pup, Krypto, making his big screen debut in hilariously fun fashion. Certain action sequences were visually stellar (spinning heat vision or enemy camp scene with Mr. Terrific, anyone?) as you would imagine and expect, though SOME of THESE felt almost too overblown for even a Summer event film like this. Again, this was more due to that ongoing sense of anticipation for this film being dashed by Gunn’s approach to it all. And Clark’s parents in this film? Come ON! Not on point!

David Corenswet DOES make a wonderful Superman, I won’t deny this, better than I thought I would appreciate, given my loyalty will still remain ultimately with Cavill. The attitude with which Corenswet embodies it brings to mind an amalgamation of Christopher Reeves and Cavill, though more closely to the former than the latter. There is a certain, perhaps even unique kind of vulnerability this take on the character showcases, and Corenswet emotively guides the Man of Steel through the physical and emotional volatility here well.

Brosnahan makes her debut as Lois Lane and does so with the same degree of commitment, energy, and command of her performance that she provided with “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel“. Steadfast, unflinching, and doggedly intent on making her mind known to both her man and to ANYONE who might come across her path, Lois is a portrait of female empowerment and then some, though I do like the fact that the character does experience her own moments of doubts, fears, and uncertainty as well, which only makes her, oh yeah, human.

Hoult goes ALL out through his interpretation of the classic Superman villain Lex Luthor, a man almost too smart for his own good, as it causes an ego the size of a planet and then some. SO fed up with Superman and insistent on “outing” something damaging to the hero, Luthor hatches a plan that may actually succeed in doing it…..at least for a little while before having to face the music wearing blue tights, an emblazoned “S” on his chest, and a cape!

There are plenty of admittedly wonderful supporting parts played by notable actors like Alan Tudyk, Wendell Pierce, Sara Sampaio, Skyler Gisondo, Frank Grillo, Eli Gathegi, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, and more. Again, there was such promise for this entire endeavor, and hence why I came into the film with better expectations than I had originally. But, in the end, while the final product does provide what we might want for Summer entertainment, this critic isn’t optimistic about what it speaks about the furthering of the DC Universe.

It wanted to leap tall buildings, but even in spite of what does appear to be a successful box office run, can it REALLY fly in the face of one whopper of an uphill battle to establish DC as the NEW power in town when it comes to the genre? We will wait and see.