As someone with little to no knowledge of the DC Universe, I was skeptical when I saw “Superman” this summer. I didn’t know much about the character or his world, and the most recent superhero movies I’d seen were lackluster at best.
Despite my misgivings, I left the theater with a renewed excitement for superhero movies. “Superman” does the seemingly impossible in this day and age by making a blockbuster movie fun without losing emotional depth.
It’s no secret that general audiences have gotten tired of superhero movies. It’s such a widespread phenomenon that movie buffs coined the term “superhero fatigue” to describe their lack of interest in these familiar heroes.
The cause of “superhero fatigue” is up for debate. Are audiences really tired of heroes, or are they tired of flat storylines, excessive CGI, and high stakes which fail to have a satisfying payoff?
Considering audiences’ reactions to “Superman,” it’s most likely the latter.
“Superman” works because it leans into the heart of its source material and central character. It contains all the makings of a typical superhero film but manages not to skimp on character development or emotional moments.
From the start of the film, there’s spectacle. In just the first ten minutes, we’re introduced to Superman himself, Krypto the Superdog, and the large and intricate set of the Fortress of Solitude.
It’d be easy to get lost among the fight sequences and otherworldly visuals, but the film stays grounded throughout its fantastical plot due to its characterization of Superman.
This rendition of Superman/Clark Kent leans heavily into his humanity and kindness. He saves squirrels, sends half his paycheck from the Daily Planet back to his parents in Kansas, and tries to take down monsters in the most humane way possible.
This pure, human side of Superman lives in the script, but the one who brings it to life is David Corenswet.
Corenswet’s pre-Superman filmography is respectable, with a few recent standouts like “Twisters” and “Pearl.” “Superman” is his first shot at being a leading man. Needless to say, he knocked it out of the park.
Corenswet’s iteration of Superman goes back to the character’s roots. He stays true to the characterization done by the comics along with influence from Christopher Reeve’s Superman from the late seventies and early eighties.
Audiences fell in love with Corenswet’s Superman almost instantaneously. Besides his physical embodiment of the character, he also has the lovable, slightly awkward Clark Kent charm down to a tee.
A popular joke among fans online is that director James Gunn simply shook a Superman comic, and Corenswet fell out from the pages.
Corenswet’s rendition of Superman isn’t brooding nor weighed down by the weight of his responsibility to humankind. He’s happy to help and knows it’s his true purpose. In fact, it’s what he loves most (besides maybe Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan.)
On the DC Studios Showcase official podcast, Corenswet spoke about this side of Superman. “[He doesn’t] want you to think you couldn’t come up to [him] and ask for directions, ask for help, or for a kid to ask for help with his homework. He wants to do all of that,” Corenswet said.
These attributes of Superman directly lend themselves to the central message of the movie. When confronting Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) toward the climax of the film, Superman launches into an impassioned speech about humanity. “I’m as human as anyone,” he says. “I love, I get scared.”
In short, this is the thesis of the film. Our emotions, passions, and values are what make us all human. The human condition isn’t defined by our abilities, but rather what we do with the cards we’re dealt.
Just like Superman, humans are flawed and thus defined by the choices we make despite those flaws and fears.
In the age of antiheroes and gray morals, this message and the way it’s conveyed is what sets “Superman” apart from other recent superhero movies.
Superman is lovable and admirable because we can see ourselves in him. Whether it’s the heart-to-heart he has with his adoptive father or the emotional, romantic scenes with Lois, we see Superman live through the same trials we go through in our own lives.
Laser vision and super strength are powers we could never possess, but these aren’t what make a hero.
“Superman” doesn’t try to be the coolest or most “punk-rock” superhero movie out there. It tries to be fun, heartfelt, and honest. It aims to show us what it means to be human, and the fact that doing good is what connects us to each other.