James Gunn’s Superman came with high expectations and a vibrant comic book aesthetic, but Kausalya Rachavelpula says it fails to deliver the emotional and intellectual connection that defined his earlier films.
James Gunn was expected to breathe new life into Superman, just as he once did with Guardians of the Galaxy. But what should’ve been a bold reinvention feels oddly hollow—a noisy, chaotic mess that leaves you asking not just “what happened?” but “why should I care?”
A Hero with No Center
This Superman isn’t discovering his power or struggling with purpose; he is not even trying to uphold his legacy—he’s already famous, already dating Lois, and already saving lives. And yet, he’s emotionally absent. David Corenswet as Superman, floats through scenes without internal conflict, moral weight, or even much curiosity. His greatest ambition? Just stopping people from getting hurt. That’s fine—even noble—but without any deeper layers, it makes for a dull centre to a chaotic story. David Corenswet is unlikely to be revered as Superman the way Christopher Reeve or Henry Cavill were.
Villainy Without Vision
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luther
Lex Luthor, played by endearing Nicholas Hoult, is introduced as a genius billionaire with world-altering power—he literally creates a “pocket universe” and unleashes chaos across dimensions. But… for what? His motivation boils down to jealousy and a desire to be more liked than Superman. With that level of tech and ambition, his goals feel comically petty. It’s hard to take him seriously when even the film doesn’t seem to understand what he wants.
Logic Takes a Backseat
This movie doesn’t just stretch believability—it ignores basic narrative logic. If someone can build an entire pocket universe, why are they bothering with PR campaigns and desert wars? A black hole shows up to swallow a villain… and then just disappears, never mentioned again. Plot devices come and go with no explanation, no consequence, and no payoff. It feels more like a brainstorm board than a finished script.
Superman Krypto
Ironically, the emotional weight the film is missing in Superman is found in his dog. Krypto has personality and urgency and gets most of the film’s best (and most coherent) moments. He’s not just comic relief—he’s the only one who consistently moves the plot forward. When your super-dog has more character depth than your lead, something’s gone sideways.
Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane
Empty Spectacle, No Soul
One action sequence, centred around Rachel Brosnahan and shown from her perspective, stands out. And the rest of the film is packed with metahumans, CGI monsters, alternate realities, and half-baked political plots—but none of it resonates. The action lacks impact. The stakes feel low. There’s no sense of awe, fear, or triumph. Even the Lois-Superman relationship, which should offer emotional grounding, feels like an afterthought. A light argument over foreign policy replaces meaningful tension. The result? A Superman film that’s all noise, no heartbeat.
There’s a moment in the film that could have added emotional depth—a message from Superman’s biological parents that ends up damaging his reputation on Earth. It clearly affects him, leaving him shaken and conflicted. But instead of digging into that turmoil, the film rushes past it. What could have been a powerful turning point, exploring Superman’s identity, loyalty, and inner conflict, is brushed aside. It’s emblematic of the film’s larger issue: skipping real emotion in favour of surface-level beats.
The background music is repetitive and fails to connect with the movie scenes, which are already lacking in emotion.
In trying to be fun, irreverent, and different, Superman loses what has always made the character iconic: emotional connection, moral clarity, and mythic scale. Instead, we get a distracted, scattered, oddly cold version of a hero who once stood for something.
This wasn’t a fresh start—it was a shrug in a cape.
Rating: 2.25/5
