Truth, Justice and a Little Bit of Sass: James Gunn’s Superman Soars (Mostly)
James Gunn’s Superman is the cinematic equivalent of putting glitter on an old comic book and blasting an ‘80s power ballad while doing it. And honestly? I ate it up. But this is also coming from someone who loved Guardians of the Galaxy and believes Peace Maker is incredibly underrated.
The movie wastes zero time on the whole “who is Superman” mystery. Everyone knows. Clark knows. Lois knows. Half of Metropolis knows. Thank goodness we did not have to sit through another pair of glasses fooling investigative journalists. Instead, we get straight to the good stuff.
Gunn doesn’t tiptoe around his messaging either. Lex Luthor’s goons may as well have ICE badges stamped on their helmets. The border wall imagery is so literal that it might as well come with a news ticker. The not-so-subtle allusions to Gaza are laid thick in the desert scenes, where Superman continues to defend the people of Jarhanpur. Lex himself is a fever dream of tech-bro nonsense, political populism, and extremely punchable smugness. One part Elon Musk, one part Trump rally, and somehow still just campy enough to make it weirdly watchable.
Krypto the Superdog is cute, loyal, and absolutely deadly when needed, but there is only so much comedic mileage you can get out of a silent canine who chomps on missiles and gives side-eye like it’s a superpower. He is a great supporting act but not quite the scene-stealer the film seems to think he is and the bit gets pretty old by the time his final dog-like instinct to attack happens.
The Justice Gang (yes, that’s their name now) pops in just enough to tease a bigger world but not enough to fully care. Yes, they provided comic relief and Mister Fantastic really was the leader of the pact (while some may argue it was Green Lantern).
And while the movie’s thesis, kindness will save us all, feels warm and fuzzy, I am torn. Are hugs really enough to fix late-stage capitalism and planetary doom? Probably not. But in Gunn’s world, maybe.
At the end of the day, this is not a new Superman. It is the old Superman told by your eccentric friend. Familiar, but funkier. And sometimes, that is exactly what the genre needs. Gunn created what I would say is a big-hearted, messy mixtape of a movie. It is smart in places, chaotic in others, and it is trying very hard to say something meaningful in a world where sincerity can feel like a risk. And honestly? That’s kind of heroic.
Final verdict:
This is a Superman who flies first, quips second, and still somehow makes you believe in goodness. It may not reinvent the cape, but it sure as heck reminds you why you loved it in the first place.
