With Superman finally hitting theaters, it’s clear James Gunn set out to reintroduce Clark Kent with heart, purpose, and just enough chaos. This isn’t a retread of what came before. It’s a fast, energetic, comic book–style sprint through the world of Metropolis, packed with characters, action, and charm. Whether you’re ready for the pace or not, the film charges forward like it has a dozen issues to cover in two hours.
David Corenswet makes a strong impression as Clark Kent. He’s awkward when he needs to be, firm when the world calls for Superman, and never lets go of that small-town warmth that defines the character. This version of Clark doesn’t feel like a god pretending to be a man. He feels like a guy who just happens to have godlike powers. That alone makes the movie feel fresher than past attempts.
The pacing here is no joke. If you’re not used to how comic books often bounce between arcs and character cameos, it might take a minute to adjust. Scenes move fast. Big events happen with little buildup. The movie expects you to keep up, and while that works well for comic readers, casual fans might find it a little jarring. Still, there’s something fun about how it leans into its comic roots so unapologetically.
Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane is sharp, curious, and doesn’t wait around for Superman to explain anything. She’s constantly ten steps ahead, with Brosnahan playing her like she’s been doing this for years. Her dynamic with Clark is one of the movie’s highlights. It doesn’t feel forced or overworked. It just clicks.
Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor brings a sense of danger that never boils over into cartoon villainy. He’s calculating and cold, but the movie wisely holds back on giving him too much screen time, letting his presence hang in the background until it counts.
Visually, the film is a comic come to life. Vibrant colors, clean lines, and wide shots that feel like splash pages. The suit works. The cape flows. The action pops without losing clarity. It’s exciting without being overwhelming, even when the story starts to pile on the characters and setups.
Where the film stumbles a bit is in how much it tries to fit in. You can feel the weight of the shared universe in the background. A few characters seem to be there more for what’s coming next than for what’s happening now. But Gunn does a decent job keeping things balanced, never letting the main story drift too far off course.
More than anything, Superman succeeds because it remembers why the character matters. He’s not defined by power. He’s defined by compassion. That message is loud and clear, and it’s what helps this version stand tall among the rest.
Final Score: 8.5/10
Superman is finally fun again. The pacing might feel like flipping from one comic issue to the next, but that’s part of the charm. It’s fast, it’s bright, and it reminds us why we believed in the cape in the first place.
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