Was Superman The Kickoff The New DCU Needed?

By: Rick O’Donnell

Superman arrived in theaters at a time when the phrase “superhero fatigue” is at an all-time high. Even the juggernaut that is the MCU is feeling the effects of audiences who are tired of the same copy-and-paste superhero stories. Can the new DCU really pull off a fresh take on a classic hero at a time when audiences are pulling away from the genre? Let’s dive right in:

The Good

There are so many things to enjoy about Superman, but I’ll try to keep it vague:

David Corenswet:

Corenswet is fantastic as both Clark Kent and Superman. There are moments when his Superman feels like the character we watched growing up, as well as a modern take. He has a larger-than-life presence on screen with an emotional range that brings the audience in on his struggles.

Lois Lane

Rachel Brosnahan is the perfect Lois Lane. Over the years, Lois has driven the story just as much as Clark. She’s not the damsel in distress; she commands a room, and when she talks, people listen. Brosnahan plays it to perfection. If she goes too over the top, fans will have a hard time believing that the soft-hearted Clark would ever fall for her. She is the perfect balance between independence and love interest.

Lex Luthor

If I’m being honest, Lex was the one concern I had from the previews, and Nicholas Hoult quickly put those feelings in the past. All the scenes from the trailers or sneak peeks had Lex coming off as soft spoken, and I was concerned he wouldn’t be the imposing personality and ego that rivaled Superman’s strength. Lex’s strength isn’t in his physical presence but his ability to sway impressionable minds, which is very believable in Hoult’s version of Lex.

Clois

Ah, yes, the real reason some of you are here. How well does Clark and Lois come together on the big screen? Blissfully is the answer. The chemistry between Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet is what “Clois” shippers wanted to see. It’s pure, it’s genuine, and it’s believable. There are those intimate moments that play off as a flawless connection between the two without damaging the personality traits of either. She’s not just his eye candy. He’s not just her hero. They are each their own, but still have a magnetic attraction to each other.

Honorable mention: Green Lantern’s powers. If the trailers weren’t enough to sway you on what to expect out of the new Lanterns series, Guy and his powers were on full display in this, and they were done perfectly.

The “Bad”

Let’s get out ahead of the naysayers, shall we? The “bad” in this movie should really be referred to more as bad*. At the end of the day, it doesn’t take away from the quality of the movie, but since there are people who will point to it, I’ll address it. There are some James Gunn-isms in this movie.

There’s a certain level of playfulness to these characters or moments that Gunn has had throughout his career, and you’ll recognize them when you see them. The reason I wouldn’t categorize it as “bad” is two main reasons. 1. It doesn’t take you out of the energy of the movie. 2. It’s a family movie that some people will bring their kids to see. Kids, who wouldn’t necessarily understand the complexities of the characters they’re seeing so why not slide in a bit of “comic booky” fun. I’ve always been a fan of a little bit of silly and playfulness as long as it’s not too much and it never feels like too much.

Then, of course, another “bad” that isn’t truly bad was the independence of the Superman movie. As a movie that’s supposed to be a part of a larger universe, it stayed in its own lane. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. At times, the DCEU felt it was trying to juggle too many things at once. So a movie that doesn’t feel like you’re missing without the context clues of other movies was refreshing. However, people will be looking for the shared universe experience; those people might be disappointed from a plot standpoint. Those characters exist, but this movie doesn’t set up their movies or shows.

The Verdict:

Despite what certain corners of the online community will say, Superman was a fun start to the new DCU. One of the biggest things it needed to do was set the tone, and it does without question. It was full of action, a little bit of playfulness that doesn’t handcuff future characters to a specific tone, and just enough emotion. Superman should be a fan favorite again after this movie.