Director: James Gunn
Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi
Have I Seen it Before: That really is the big question, but no, the film is (mostly; more on that later) brand new.
Did I Like It: The problem with reviewing DC films (whether DCEU, DCU, or Elseworlds) I feel like I have to state my credentials, so that you, dear reader, can decide whether you want to stop reading or not.
I don’t mourn the loss of the DCEU, finding the majority of the films ill-considered, while at the same time, despite some flaws, I kind of liked and still do like Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013). I was so exhausted by Justice League (2017)—and resolutely never want to discuss Mother Boxes ever again—that I let my wife write the site’s review of Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021). I greatly anticipated The Flash (2023) for obvious reasons, and was largely disappointed by it, again, for obvious—but different—reasons. I ultimately couldn’t care less about the Snyder vs. Gunn debate which I can’t imagine is of any interest to people outside of the chronically online, and feel that the saga of DC films post-2013 has largely been a cautionary tale about the dangers of caring too much about superhero movies.
Now that we have that fact out of the way, what did I think of this film? It’s well acted, often thrilling, frequently funny, and perfectly cast. I’m coming to my review a little late, but I’m feeling increasingly comfortable saying that it is the most purely enjoyable of this summer’s tentpoles, made all the more impressive by the fact that there has yet to be a thoroughly hyped dud released this season.
As superhero films are often at their weakest when they feel the need to bend over backwards to set up future films, this feels like a very soft set up for a new shared universe. Aside from a road sign pointing the way to Gotham City, and the cameo appearance of a new Supergirl (Milly Alcock) that briefly steals the show and serves as a pretty great teaser for her film next year, the film is more concerned with telling its story. Gunn has said that no film in his new effort will go forward without a completed script. Not every one of his films will be a winner, but it’s hard to deny that’s a good sign.
It’s a 90s Superman comic brought to life, right down to Nathan Fillion’s haircut. I mean that in the best way possible. As long as they find a reason for him to enter one of these stories, I may yet live to see a live-action Batcave with a penny, a T-Rex, and a Joker card before I die. For the first time in a very long time, I’m not positively exhausted at the prospect of more DC films coming my way.
My only complaint with the film is the one point under which I have to give Zack Snyder the advantage. Gunn claims he wants a fresh start, but he couldn’t help but lean on the musical themes written by John Williams for Superman (1978). Even that poster up above is absolutely eating Christopher Reeve’s leftovers. It’s a trap that Bryan Singer grabbed onto with both hands, but on which Snyder did indeed break new ground. I can see a studio wanting to go with that idea, but that may be the kind of muddled decision making we’re going to occasionally get when the filmmaker and the executive are the same person.