Superman: James Gunn’s DC Flagship Strays Into Ridiculousness For Sure, But Keeps Enough of the Kryptonian Down To Earth To Leave Me Looking Up.

One of the most critically divisive superhero films in recent years, James Gunn’s reboot of Superman begs the question: has he finally assembled a cast of characters that will actually stick around? Or should we prepare ourselves for another total recast in two years?

My opinion (which no one asked for, but you’re getting anyway): This movie isn’t perfect—but it’s definitely worth cheering for Superman on the big screen again. You should screen it. It’s even tame enough to take your kids! (Indoctrinate them early, parents.)

But before we go any further…

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This review contains spoilers. If you’re spoiler-averse, check out my two-minute spoiler-free version on TikTok (@uninvited.reviewer) or Instagram (@uninvited_reviewer). You’ve been warned.

Highly anticipated for both its content and the fact that it kicks off Gunn’s much-hyped revamp of the DCU, Superman has split critics down the middle. Some argue its silliness overshadows any redeeming qualities, claiming Gunn overcorrected from the grimdark tone of previous DC films. Others praise it as a breath of fresh air—finally washing off the sepia tones and flipping on the lights. (Or, you know, any lights at all.)

So how does Gunn do bringing the world’s most iconic superhero back to the big screen?

Honestly? It’s a good start.

Does it stray too far into absurdity at times? Yes. Having Superman cradle an alien baby while fighting his way out of a pocket dimension might be the single worst creative decision in the whole production.

But—and this is a big “but”—we now have a Superman who feels more human than any version before. And I like it. I like a Superman who doesn’t always know what to do. I like that he saves squirrels and wants to send rogue space monsters to an intergalactic zoo. I like that Clark Kent is more confident about his relationship than Lois Lane. I like that the other superheroes in the film are kind of idiots (except Hawkgirl, who FINALLY gets to be her ruthless, winged-warrior self).

It makes their wins feel earned, and their losses actually sting.

Did DC finally crack the code? (Maybe one of the execs accidentally watched a Marvel movie—ba-dum-tss.)

Truth is, superpowers, obscene wealth, or gamma radiation aren’t what make a superhero. (Though, yeah, they help.) At their core, superheroes are the ones who put everything on the line to help people—not just those they love, but strangers they’ve never met. That’s the heartbeat of every great comic, show, and movie—and Superman hits it hard.

Yes, the movie has overt political themes. (Lex Luthor is the main antagonist, and he is a billionaire who spends the whole film trying to… hmm… permanently deport Superman.) There’s also a simmering war between two fictional nations, with one leader claiming he’s “liberating” the other as a pretense for invasion. Sound familiar? If not, please, for the love of Krypton, read a headline.

At his lowest point, when Clark discovers his Kryptonian parents may not have sent him to Earth for pure reasons—and when the world he’s sworn to protect starts to turn on him—it’s his adoptive father (blessedly portrayed as the classic “Ma and Pa”) who reminds him that other people’s expectations mean nothing if you aren’t true to yourself. It’s one of the most human moments in the film, and it reminded me of a dozen conversations I’ve had with my dad—who’s always believed in me more than I’ve believed in myself.

We don’t get a full-blown origin story, and the film does suffer a bit for it. The film hits the ground running and barely slows down—from Superman’s first whistle to Krypto (an amazing addition that raises a very real question: how do you discipline a super dog?) to the final showdown with Lex Luthor (played to charmingly despicable perfection by Nicholas Hoult).

While Superman handles the punching, laser-eyes, and existential crises, the real MVPs—Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), and Lex’s ex-girlfriend Eve (Sara Sampaio)—team up to expose Lex and clear Superman’s name. Eve may have no idea what she’s doing… or maybe she does? Regardless, they pull this off while fleeing a collapsing city aboard Mister Terrific’s ship. Honestly, someone give Lois and Jimmy a raise. Or a medal. Or a raise and a medal.

By the end, Superman is done caring what the world thinks of him. His visit with Ma and Pa Kent grounds him again, setting up a trio of powerhouse monologues—two from Lex, one from Clark—that form the film’s emotional climax. If you’re not deeply disturbed by Lex by the end of this scene, might I gently suggest therapy?

The Justice Gang—featuring Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner (Green Lantern), Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, and Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl—round out the superhero ensemble. They’re barely on screen, but they own every second.

It’s not a perfect film. The ridiculousness occasionally undercuts the emotional stakes. The lack of backstory (especially for Lex) may make it harder for newcomers to fully connect. It often feels like we’ve dropped into the middle of a rollercoaster rather than boarding from the start.

Still, I’m more hopeful about the DCU than I’ve been in a long time. I’m not used to being excited for DC films, so honestly, I feel kind of confused and vaguely uncomfortable.

But I’ll take it.