The newest “Superman” soared to surprisingly favorable reviews from critics as David Corenswet dons the cape, logo and signature curl to kick off the DC overhaul.
The James Gunn-helmed installment sees Superman facing criticism from the public and the federal government, affording Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor the groundwork to “get the Man of Steel out of the way for good,” though the Man of Steel has Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and his dog, Krypto, in his pocket.
At the time of publication, the film holds an 85% Certified Fresh approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with a Generally Favorable score of 71 on Metacritic.
“Superman hasn’t had this much charm and personality since Christopher Reeve made you believe a man could fly,” said the Boston Globe, giving it 3 out of 4 stars. “While David Corenswet won’t replace the memories of Reeve, he’s certainly the best Superman since the late actor hung up his cape and tights.”
Screen Crush gave the film 8 out of 10, dubbing it a “super-breath of fresh air” for DC and the genre at large, while Rolling Stone considered it “largely a blast” and The New York Times was “won over.”
But not all critics were so forgiving of what Variety called an “occasionally exhausting,” albeit “arresting and touching,” experience.
The Guardian rated the movie 2 out of 5 and felt it proved that the genre’s “thrill is gone.”
“Much of Gunn’s film feels like a sequel, like we needed something before this one to complete the whole picture,” said Newsweek.
The San Francisco Chronicle considered it “a mess” that either ended up “a terrible superhero movie or an OK parody.”
Perhaps the overarching praise and critiques could be summed up by the Houston Chronicle, which afforded it 3.5 out of 5: “It’s not a great movie, by any stretch, but it is a highly entertaining one with a solid cast, impressive effects and an underlying message of love and respect.”
