Review: Superman (2025) – A Fun, Flawed Flight for the Man of Steel

 

Review: Superman (2025) – A Fun, Flawed Flight for the Man of Steel

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ (3 out of 5 stars)

James Gunn’s Superman (2025) marks the much-anticipated launch of a new DC Universe, blending comic book nostalgia with modern superhero spectacle. While the film has moments of genuine joy and an earnest take on its title character, it ultimately stumbles under the weight of too many characters, chaotic pacing, and a wildly inconsistent tone. It's a movie that wants to do everything at once—and almost does, to its own detriment.

Let’s start with what works: Gunn absolutely nails the comic book tone. From the opening frames, it’s clear this isn’t a gritty, grounded Superman like we’ve seen in recent years. This is a Superman who exists in a world of bright colors, alien tech, talking dogs, and superpowered sidekicks. The tone is unapologetically comic booky, with nods to the Silver Age and the wild, anything-goes spirit of old-school DC. It’s a world where Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and even Krypto the Superdog coexist without a hint of irony. For longtime fans of the comics, this approach is a breath of fresh air.

And yes—Superman is fun. There’s a buoyant energy running through the film that keeps it engaging, even when the plot begins to unravel. Gunn’s signature humor, love for the absurd, and knack for heartfelt character moments shine through in bursts. Several set pieces feel like they were ripped straight from a comic splash page, and a few action scenes are so over-the-top that you can’t help but grin.

The heart of the film, though, is David Corenswet’s Superman. He’s charming, grounded, and imbued with a vulnerability that sets him apart from past iterations. Corenswet brings a hopeful, almost Reeve-esque warmth to the role, while still feeling modern and emotionally authentic. He’s not a flawless alien god, but a man trying his best to navigate a chaotic world—and that emotional core, however briefly explored, gives the film some much-needed weight.

But despite these strengths, Superman (2025) struggles to soar.

The most glaring issue is the pacing. The film feels rushed from the beginning, zipping through major plot points and character introductions with barely any time to breathe. There’s a dizzying amount of material crammed into the two-hour runtime—origin flashbacks, political allegory, world-building for future DC movies, multiple villains, and more. It’s ambitious, but in trying to juggle so much, the story becomes chaotic and confusing.

That chaos also extends to the film’s tone. One moment, you’re watching a sincere character-driven scene; the next, you’re thrown into a slapstick sequence with cartoonish antics. These tonal shifts aren’t always smooth, and some of the more comedic beats veer into cringe-worthy territory. What might read as charmingly silly in a comic book panel doesn’t always translate well to the screen, and the inconsistency can be jarring.

Character development, beyond Superman himself, is also disappointingly thin. Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan, is capable and compelling but underutilized. Her chemistry with Superman is promising but undercooked. Lex Luthor makes an impact, but even he feels like a secondary player in a film overflowing with other priorities. The supporting cast—Supergirl, Green Lantern, and a host of others—are more like cameos than characters, leaving little room for emotional connection.

Then there’s the issue of the visuals. While early scenes show off some striking, imaginative production design, the third act descends into a familiar CGI soup. The final battle, in particular, is a blur of overblown effects and weightless destruction that undercuts the emotional stakes. It’s the kind of finale we’ve seen a dozen times in superhero movies, and unfortunately, it leaves a flat impression.

Despite these flaws, Superman isn’t a disaster. It’s messy and overstuffed, yes—but it’s also made with love, enthusiasm, and a sincere desire to bring something hopeful back to the superhero genre. It’s a far cry from the grimdark DC films of the past, and for many fans, that will be reason enough to celebrate. Gunn’s affection for the source material is palpable, and his vision of a more colorful, weirder, and more emotionally open DC Universe shows promise.

Still, as a standalone film, Superman feels more like a proof of concept than a fully-formed story. It’s trying to launch a universe, introduce dozens of characters, and tell a compelling Superman tale all at once—and it just can’t keep all those balls in the air.

Final Verdict:

Superman (2025) is a fun, frantic ride that captures the comic book spirit but stumbles on basic storytelling. A charismatic lead performance and bold stylistic choices are weighed down by a rushed narrative, underdeveloped characters, and an overreliance on CGI. For comic book die-hards, there’s plenty to love here. For everyone else, it might be more of a mixed bag.

★★★☆☆ – Worth seeing, but keep your expectations in check.