'Superman' Review: A Heroic Reintroduction To The Man Of Steel
James Gunn starts the DC Studio's Universe on a thrilling high note with optimism, hope and kindness shining bright.
It might be a generational thing, but I’ve just never been a huge Superman guy. Past adaptations—particularly Zack Snyder’s ‘Man of Steel’—only deepened my indifference toward the character. The rocky track record of DC’s cinematic universe hasn’t helped either, which meant James Gunn’s first entry in his DCU reboot had a much higher bar to clear for me than your average superhero flick.
And wow—did it ever!
‘Superman’ is a refreshing, triumphant, and spectacular return to form that feels like a comic book come to life. It delivers exactly what a Superman movie should: hope, optimism, and joy. Simply put, this might be the best Superman film ever made.
One of the biggest knocks on Superman is that he’s too powerful—a god among mortals, faster, stronger, and more indestructible than anyone else in the DC pantheon. Gunn tackles that critique head-on by making a bold narrative choice: we begin with Kal-El at his lowest point. There’s no drawn-out origin story here. Instead, we drop into a fully formed DC universe where metahumans have existed for 3,000 years, and Clark Kent has been donning the cape for three of them.
What follows is popcorn cinema at its finest. The action is electric and the cinematography breathtaking, setting it apart from any superhero movies prior. We’ve never seen flight captured like this. Exhilarating aerial sequences make you feel like you’re soaring right alongside the Man of Steel. Director of photography Henry Braham brings a soft, radiant glow to the film’s visual language. His use of vibrant, comic-book-style colors feels tailor-made for the Man of Tomorrow, with visual motifs that only add to the mood of grandeur and heroism.
Tonally, Gunn’s ‘Superman’ pays clear homage to Richard Donner’s iconic 1978 classic—and that’s no small compliment. While tighter, more kinetic, and structurally modern, it still carries the same sincerity and charm that helped define the superhero genre nearly 50 years ago.
That’s due in no small part to David Corenswet’s performance. He blends the best of Christopher Reeve, Henry Cavill, and Tyler Hoechlin, but adds his own fresh spin—a dorky Midwestern charm and wide-eyed idealism that feels perfectly suited to the character. It’s a pitch-perfect portrayal of Clark Kent, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else wearing the suit quite like he does.
The supporting cast is just as stellar. The chemistry between Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is off the charts, lighting up every scene they share. Nicholas Hoult goes full-tilt as a sinister, emotionally unhinged Lex Luthor, walking the tightrope between compelling and cartoonish without falling into Jesse Eisenberg territory. And Edi Gathegi is a straight-up scene-stealer as Mister Terrific, giving new life to a lesser-known DC hero who deserves his shine, and a performance that’s sure to put the character on the map.
That said, the film isn’t without flaws. Its devotion to comic-book storytelling means everything—character motivations, emotions, plot beats—is said out loud, spelled out clearly. That explicitness lends the film a campy, sometimes corny tone that may divide audiences unfamiliar with the source material’s style. And like many comic stories, ‘Superman’ asks you to roll with some pretty big leaps in logic, like Lex Luthor casually having access to a city-wrecking kaiju. It’s wild, whimsical, and occasionally confounding if you think too hard about it.
Still, ‘Superman’ succeeds in what matters most. This is a Man Of Steel for a new era. In a time of division, cynicism, and rising hate, its message stands tall: empathy is our greatest superpower. Corenswet’s Superman leads with compassion, offering it to every person (and creature) he encounters. It’s heartening to think that a new generation may walk away from this film believing Superman is cool, and in turn, believing kindness is cool too.
XL Film Fest In Chicago - Join Me Aug. 14-23
Founded by the multi-hyphenate creator Troy Pryor under his Creative Cypher banner, XL FEST has quickly evolved into something more akin to a cultural marketplace-meets-creative summit than your typical popcorn-and-panels affair. This year, Pryor brings heavyweight muscle with TateMen Entertainment—yes, those Tate brothers: Larenz, Lahmard, and Laron—joining as strategic partners.
Expect big vibes and even bigger moments. The festival kicks off with a rooftop screening under the stars, rides the wave through a week of youth programs with the Obama Foundation, health and wellness talks, indie premieres, and wraps up with a celebrity-packed brunch honoring George Tillman and Bob Teitel—two legends who helped immortalize Chicago on screen through Soul Food.
Highlights
Director Malcolm D. Lee introduces his hotly-anticipated book The Best Man: Unfinished Business
KevOnStage shares how he flipped viral content into an empire
Streamers are pulling up ready to license content right out the gate (some of last year’s picks are already award winners)
XL's Content Lab continues its breakout streak—now partnered with Kickstarter to boost funding for the next wave. With past alums like Captain Zero (Tribeca pick via Whoopi Goldberg) and GO (Viola Davis-backed), the Lab is quickly becoming a pipeline, not a workshop.
And let’s not ignore the vibe. The week-long celebration pulses through Chicago’s most iconic venues: David Rubenstein Forum, Hyde Park Labs, Rooftop Cinema Club, DuSable Museum, Harper Theater, and more. XL FEST doesn’t just fill cultural gaps—it rebuilds the whole blueprint.
Season 17 of ‘It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’ (HULU) - the new season kicks off Wednesday at 8 p.m CST on FX and streaming on Hulu with the gang’s perspective of the ‘Abbott Elementary’ crossover.
‘Portlandia’ (Netflix) - The irreverent sketch comedy show is back on Netflix with all of it’s seasons available to stream. God Bless Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein.
‘Adults’ (Hulu) - It’s like Friends on acid, following a group of 20-somethings in New York establishing careers, navigating relationships, and engaging in all kinds of Gen-Z debauchery and chaos. It’s hilarious.