James Gunn is back, and better than ever, revamping a beloved OG superhero, Superman, under the DC mantle. This movie was designed to be loved. It wasn’t made to be critiqued by cinephiles or performative film enthusiasts. It was created for all comic book lovers, superhero fanatics, and casual watchers. James Gunn created “Superman” with heart and intentional appeal. A great example of this is the character Krypto the Superdog; Gunn manages to turn a seemingly meaningless animal sidekick into a lovable plot device that gets the audience invested whenever he comes on screen.
The Superman that Gunn writes—and the marvelously genuine David Corenswet portrays—is corny. As both Clark Kent and Superman, he makes goofy one-liners that only sort of work. However, Corenswet’s earnest tone creates an almost sweet delivery. “Superman’s” source material is so apparent throughout the movie that it feels like Corenswet leapt out of a comic panel onto your screen to save… a squirrel? Yes. Because to Superman, all loss of life matters, and to pursue goodness is the truest calling.
Another thing I liked about this movie was how concise it felt. Recently, superhero movies—specifically DC superhero movies—have leaned into what I call the “Batmanification” of every character. Making each hero dark, brooding, and mysterious, and setting up this thematic shift through five-minute-long cut scenes that disrupt the film. “Aquaman,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Man of Steel” all do this to their titular characters. Not every superhero is Batman. Gunn knew this and executed “Superman” accordingly.
My biggest critique while watching the film was the lack of the classic plot-reinforcing soundtrack that viewers are used to hearing in Gunn films. Besides the classic “Superman Theme” and “Punkrocker” by Teddy Bears ft. Iggy Pop, the soundtrack was lackluster at best; oftentimes, it struggled to evoke emotion within the viewer.
While writing and directing this film, Gunn faced an apparent dilemma: How do you bring a Superman who is supposed to represent a pillar of black and white, good above evil, in a world where life is not black and white, and isn’t always good above evil? How do you bring this Superman into a world of gray?
I have no idea, and maybe that’s why I am not a film writer. What I do know is that I left the movie theater thinking about the film’s parallels to the world we live in today. I think Superman’s resolution of problems (spoiler alert: through the power of friendship) could offer some insight into how we could resolve our own conflicts. What I seek in a film, and one of the deciding factors of the coveted Falcon rating, is its lasting impact—and I left the movie believing I could take on the world. As said by R.E.M., “I am Superman, and I can do anything.”
This article also appears in our September 2025 print edition.
