Bubbly, convoluted, familiar. But it does the character justice.

Having established himself as Earth’s protector, Superman must contend with his methods being questioned.

Superman 2025 director James Gunn (Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy) is the newly appointed producer of the DC Comics movie universe. He is intended to be what Kevin Feige is for Marvel. However, DC Comics movie adaptations have had a very self-destructive story so far. Superman, perhaps the brand’s most iconic character, being a good example.
To be clear, I miss Henry Cavill’s Superman. A lot. Years from now, he will probably be remembered like Pierce Brosnen’s James Bond. An excellent choice for the role let down by inferior writing. But much like Spider-man and Batman, we now have another actor playing the role of Superman.
For this reboot of the DC franchise, David Corenswet (Twisters) Rachel Brosnahan (The Amateur) and Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max Fury Road) take on the lead roles of Supes, Lois, and Lex Luthor respectively.

But does this film usher in a new era for DC Comics? Or are we in for yet another slow decline?

Gunn’s movies are starting to take on a distinct style. Not just in visual flair but in their screenplays. As excellent as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was, it felt a little bloated in the middle. Superman also, feels a little bloated. Like there’s one too many elements at play. This is apparent from the start.

DC Comic adaptations have a bad history of “catching up” with Marvel. Despite Marvel in 2025 being on the backfoot, it seems DC is still in a hurry. Superman 2025 starts with the text “three centuries ago”. Oof. Alright. But before things go Eternals on us, the text gets us up to modern times. But a lot has happened: Superman is established in Metropolis, Clark Kent is in a relationship with Lois, Lex Luthor has a long, torrid history trying to usurp Superman. The Earth is well adjusted to “metahumans”, people with extraordinary powers.
This is on top of the minutiae of the plot. Which involves Superman having already prevented a war.

The start of this film is baggy with exposition, and it has a “tell don’t show” attitude towards it all. Characters will exposit to each other about things they all should already know for the audience’s sake. A particularly flat line comes from one of Lex’s henchmen, who says “I understand, I gave up my humanity to help you,” or something as functional as that. It isn’t terrible, but it is clunky.

The screenplay itself has several big tentpole scenes, designed to give all the characters their moments. This is where the bloat comes in. One might say there are too many characters, villains and heroes alike, for the “first” Superman movie. This feels very committee certified. Warner Brothers nodding that the required foundations for an Expanded Universe have been set.

This is all resoundingly negative so far. But, like the hero himself; there is hope.
The casting is impeccable. Every single actor in this movie fits their role perfectly. Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, even supporting character Jimmy Oslen gets a perfect match in Skyler Gisando. There isn’t a single one I didn’t enjoy, and I want to see more of these characters.
The writing is classic Gunn style. The grimdark Zack Snyder writing is a distant memory now; this film is quippy and bubbly. Which is to its benefit; it feels like the characters are hitting the ground running, as if we have been following their antics for years. The chemistry is very good.

The action sequences are solid. Again, Gunn’s direction of action is good for these sorts of movies. A lot is happening, but you understand where everyone is at any one time. There’s good levity as well during the action. These action scenes shouldn’t bore children in the audience.
It also isn’t an origin story. If that wasn’t obvious already from this review. Which is a double-edged sword. It is a relief that we don’t have to go through the who, where, why, and how again. It isn’t even a villain original story. Its just a story. It does require some legwork to get us up to jogging speed, though.

Superman’s character is also well represented. While I personally don’t know the comics, I know from all the other movies and cultural osmosis that the Snyder Superman was… incorrect. Not through fault of Cavill, but due to the movies not showing Superman in the correct light (narratively and literally). This film is doing massive work to bring the character closer to Christopher Reeves’ interpretation again. A character who is from another world, but is a representation of hope and purity. Even if he’s a bit naïve while doing so.

Overall, I enjoyed it. It has elevated Superman, but it hasn’t excelled at Superman. It is at best, a typical superhero movie. At worst, it didn’t move me especially.

Additional Marshmallows: James Gunn really likes whistling and small red objects zipping around and killing people, doesn’t he? Niche.