Plot Summary: Superman and friends return to the big screen to fight the big problems that we see reflected in the real world. He fights both human and alien monsters, but also struggles with his own frustrations and insecurities. Sure, Lex Luthor is behind the madness, but what is his motive? A new Clark Kent is on the case, battling obstacles in multiple dimensions, while honoring his commitment to protecting the human race. 

Runtime: 129 minutes

Director: James Gunn

Writer: James Gunn

Main Cast: 

• David Corenswet as Clark Kent / Superman
• Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane
• Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
• Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt / Mister Terrific
• Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason / Metamorpho
• Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner / Green Lantern
• Isabela Merced as Kendra Saunders / Hawkgirl

Review by: Lauren C.

We meet Superman in media res, with just a concise opening crawl to get the audience up to speed. The brevity proves effective and clever, as the film correctly assumes that we know at least a little about the hero after nearly 90 years of his existence on page and screen and his ubiquity in American pop culture. Not into superheroes? You won’t necessarily be lost in James Gunn’s interpretation of the Superman lore. Let’s go over the basics. Alter ego Clark Kent? Check. Day job as a journalist? Check. Girlfriend and coworker Lois Lane? Check. Kryptonite is his only weakness? Check! And you’re good to go. 

David Corenswet deftly plays Superman as hopeful and emotionally vulnerable, with a strong moral compass. Even when he learns that the mission that his deceased parents sent him on may not be as it seems, he remains steadfast, resolute in the belief that mankind needs saving. After the very grim DCEU, this is a welcome change. Superman is primarily concerned with saving lives, at any cost–and in this world, that’s a problem. In this representation of planet Earth, there are many issues that we see in our real off-screen lives. Tech billionaires, like Lex Luthor (who, now, bears an uncanny resemblance to a real-life bald billionaire) run the show, while the most vulnerable among us suffer. Money, technology, and power intertwine with the divisive and warmongering leadership of large, militarized nations. Superman attempts to answer the question: what if superheroes fought the “real” monsters in our world? What would the repercussions be for choosing lives over international policies? What fears would arise in the human population at the sight of a literal alien (read: immigrant) in their midst? Very heavy ideas, I know. However, James Gunn’s writing is humorous, quippy, and at times sentimental, making sure the mood never gets too dire.