NERD ALERT MOVIE REVIEW - SUPERMAN (2025) - Spoiler Filled

*BE WARNED - THIS REVIEW IS FULL OF SPOILERS*

Let me start by saying, I am not a scholar of Superman, specifically his comic book storylines. I am very familiar with his movies, save Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. I have seen it, several times, but let's be serious, even the likes of Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder, Jon Cryer, Mariel Hemingway, Jim Broadbent, and of course the man himself, Christopher Reeve, couldn't save that studio money grab. And before you start, yes, I thoroughly enjoy Superman III with Richard Pryor and the creepiest AI bot I have experienced on film. So I am capable of enjoying movies just for the fun of it.

And now for Superman (2025). Hope is back - not just in the DC Universe, but in the hearts of moviegoers everywhere. James Gunn’s Superman isn’t just a reboot; it’s a revival, a brilliant, heartfelt, and surprisingly funny love letter to everything Superman is and always should be.

From the very first notes of that John Williams inspired score and those retro title graphics that echo the 1978 original, I knew I was in for something special. Gunn doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. He just reminds us how smooth it used to be, and then adds a few modern upgrades that make the journey even more satisfying. Speaking of music, I love how he added a heavy guitar to the score. To me, it played well into the ongoing joke of Clark claiming he's punk rock, while Lois, who is punk rock, sees him as pop music. And let's be honest, we all see Clark as pop music. That's the point.

David Corenswet absolutely embodies Superman. He brings the warmth, idealism, and quiet strength that made Christopher Reeve a legend, but with a fresh, grounded confidence. BUT I felt his Clark Kent didn't reach the heights of Reeve. To be fair though, there was a lot less Clark in the real world where he needed to hide his identity. The people closest to him already know his secret. Which brings up Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane. A scene-stealer. She’s sharp, fearless, and layered with vulnerability that never undercuts her strength. I don't intend to continuously compare this to the original, but she embodied the attitude and toughness of Margot Kidder's Lane, as well as being able to showcase her soft side and love for Clark Kent. The Kents, played by Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince, bring pure Americana to the screen. Their scenes on the farm were among my favorites, just genuine, soul-nourishing stuff. I've lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for over twenty years now, but my roots are still in my small hometown of Medina, Ohio (about 30 miles south of Cleveland, the birthplace of the Superman character as well as a lot of locations in the film). I truly appreciated seeing a slice of what I grew up with portrayed so sincerely in this movie.

Shout-out to Gunn for embracing the weirder corners of the DC Universe, which he most definitely has a knack for (Guardians of the Galaxy, Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, etc...). Mr. Terrific (Aldis Hodge) and Hawk Girl (Isabela Merced) bring swagger and muscle to the team, while Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) injects just the right amount of humor and cosmic weight. I can't remember a time I enjoyed Guy Gardner in the comics, but Fillion takes that same attitude from the books and plays it off with fantastic entertainment on film. I'm not a huge fan of Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) from the comics, but I thoroughly enjoyed his role in the film, including his invitation to join the Justice Gang (name pending team approval). These aren't glorified cameos either, each one has something to do and brings something to say.

Speaking of cameos though, I loved seeing Wendell Pierce play Perry White! Unfortunately, we didn't get a ton of him on screen. I know he's been in a ton of stuff, but he'll always be the jerk trying to take down Hackers as Agent Dick Gill. It was also a breath of fresh air to see Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) play a key role in the story. His interactions with ex-girlfriend, and current flame for Lex Luthor, Eve Teshmacher (Sara Sampaio) were funny and a key to the plot. As small as her role was, I also enjoyed Ms. Teshmacher's return to the big screen. Full disclosure though, and I truly enjoyed this tweak, I felt this version was a combination of Valerie Perrine's portrayal and Ned Beatty's character Otis, both from the 1978 movie. There were a handful of characters that didn't necessarily play a huge role, but were faces and characters I recognized, like Michael Ian Black, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Mr. Handsome (Trevor Newlin), Sapphire Stagg (Louisa Krause) and of course the brief appearance of Maxwell Lord. No clue if there are any big plans for the character, which he has had in the comic book universe, but I always love seeing James's brother, Sean, get some live action love.

Most of all, and I was waiting for this one, I held my breath and a tear, when Will Reeve came onscreen as a news reporter (which he does in real life). I get it, super cheesy and all that. I DO NOT CARE! Christopher Reeve will always be Superman to me. I have enjoyed every single actor who has played the Man of Steel (not named Dean Cain), but Christopher Reeve will always be the one who made me believe a man could fly. So seeing his son represent him onscreen was beyond wonderful.

And now onto Lex Luthor. My God. Nicholas Hoult gives a performance that oozes menace, intellect, and entitlement. Once upon a time I was bummed when he was not cast as the new Batman, nothing against Robert Pattinson. But now I'm overjoyed that the newest version of Superman has such a worthy adversary (and one I wanted to punch the whole damn movie). This isn’t a caricature evil. Lex is dangerous, persuasive, and utterly believable as a man who sees Superman not as a savior, but a threat to humanity and more importantly his own superiority complex. It’s the kind of villain you love to hate. And hate the more you learn and see.

Now, let’s talk about the real scene-stealers: Krypto the Superdog and the robot caretakers in the Fortress of Solitude. What a delight. The fact that this movie can include a superpowered canine and gleaming Kryptonian AI assistants (played with enthusiasm by Michael Rooker, Pom Klementieff, Grace Chan, and Alan Tudyk) without making it feel silly? That’s Gunn magic right there. It’s heartfelt, it’s fun, and it somehow all works. Oh, and Gary (Tudyk) will always be 4 to me. If you know, you know. ; )

Filming in Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio brought a gritty realism to Metropolis that felt grounded and fresh. Those cities shine on screen, from the sweeping skyline shots to the old-school American charm of the small-town Kansas scenes. You could feel the midwestern soul of Superman’s origin in every frame. I am not ashamed to admit that several of the scenes shot in Cleveland gave me a lump in my throat. It was amazing, as a boy who visited Cleveland all the time, to see Public Square, Terminal Tower, the old BP Building, Key Tower, Fifth Third Center, and of course Jacob's Field (yes, I know it's Progressive Field now, but it will always be Jacob's Field to me). The one that really did me in though, was the guy gets the girl ending inside the Arcade. I have been inside that beautiful historical building more times than I can count. To see Superman and Lois float in that same space and have a beautiful moment was everything I could ask for. Again, cheesy? You bet. I loved it!

But okay, it’s not perfect. The henchmen? Not the greatest rogue's gallery. Ultraman starts off promising, but once his identity is revealed, I had flashbacks to Superman IV: The Quest for Peace's clone storyline, and nobody wants that giggle escaping their lips at such a big reveal. The Engineer? Honestly, kind of grating. Her techno-babble wore thin fast. I also had a tough time relating to Luthor's cult of supporters. Like seriously, they are in on the evil and they know it. No ruse. No hidden agenda. They know the plan and enthusiastically go along. I guess that's not too surprising I don't understand as I still can't fathom how Donald Trump can still garner such a strong base. Apparently I need to adjust my expectations. Thankfully, in the movie at least, they got their just deserts.

Anywho, onto the next. I could have really done without the screaming from Hawk Girl. I truly hope they adjust that character trait in the future because I did enjoy her character. As for the story, I didn't like the "twist" that Superman's biological parents, Jor-El (Bradley Cooper) and Lara (Angela Sarafyan), sent him to Earth to rule over it. I am aware, as my nerdier partners informed me, that this has happened in the books. Fine. I just did not like it. So there.

Still, these are nitpicks in what is ultimately a phenomenal return to form. The balance of drama and humor is pitch-perfect. Gunn knows Superman is a comic book character and treats him as such, not a god, not a brooding antihero, but a symbol. A man trying to do good. Just good.

And to those critics whining about this Superman being “woke”? Please. Read a comic book. This is the same Superman who stood up for the little guy in 1938. The same one who said, “Dreams save us," or even better, "Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow." This is the old Superman. This is the new Superman. It's the Superman that has always been.

Bottom line: James Gunn gave us the Superman movie we desperately needed. It honors the past, embraces the weirdness, and most importantly, it gives us hope. That’s the word that kept coming back to me walking out of the theater. Hope.

Check out the trailer below and make time to see a fun summer blockbuster: