Not All Heroes Wear Capes – Some Just Disappoint
James Gunn’s Superman reboot tries to go bold but lands flat. With awkward jokes, confusing world-building, and forced emotional arcs, it's hard to care – except maybe about Krypto the dog. A few fun moments saved it, but overall, Super... meh.
Superman? More like Supermeh – and that’s being generous. Comparing it to the 2007 banger Superbad feels offensive. Unlike that classic, this reboot is unmemorable, tacky, and forced. 6.5 out of ten.
That said, I’ll give credit where it’s due: the film doesn't shy away from politics. In a time of global turbulence, it felt timely, albeit risky, to gesture toward the Israel-Palestine conflict in a way that was digestible for mainstream audiences. James Gunn’s take is bold, and arguably a hot one.
A scene featuring monkeys posting “supershit” and other slurs on keyboards was darkly hilarious – and another jab at our ridiculous digital world.
The film’s first act was its weakest. The dialogue was kitschy, the jokes fell flat, and an early CGI sequence featuring a weird dinosaur-monster thing felt childish and cheap.
The film's highlight was Nathan Fillion as the mushroom-headed Green Lantern – bizarre and delightful. I also appreciated the uniforms sported by Lex Luthor’s team. Who knew Hawaiian shirts could be so menacing? Trader Joe’s, are you secretly evil?
The love story between Superman and Lois felt awkward and undercooked – a shame, especially since I adore Rachel Brosnahan (aka the Marvellous Mrs. Maisel). The real emotional arc was between S and Krypto, his loyal pup. It’s sincere, heartwarming, and sure to dazzle dog lovers everywhere – even if, as my mate pointed out, it probably doubles as a merch play.
He also noted: “The characters were thrust into the film and we were meant to care about them – and we don’t.” The emotional groundwork wasn’t laid. And in a story with high stakes, that’s the real kryptonite.
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