Right, let’s address the Kryptonian in the room: James Gunn’s Superman reboot is about as exciting as a wet weekend in Skegness. After catching the premiere at Leicester Square last night (where even the free popcorn couldn’t salvage the evening), I’m proper gutted to report that this franchise restarter is a bigger misfire than a heat vision shot gone wrong.
Remember when we all thought David Corenswet would be the fresh face Superman needed? Turns out his square-jawed portrayal has all the charm of a Lidl own-brand action figure. The actor, bless him, approaches the role with what I can only describe as “square-faced soullessness” imagine if ChatGPT designed a superhero, and you’re halfway there.
The crisis of confidence storyline? We’ve seen it done better in literally every other Superman film. At least Henry Cavill’s brooding had some depth this feels like someone watched all previous Superman films and hit “blend” without checking what went into the mixer.
After giving us the absolutely brilliant Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn seemed like a solid bet for breathing new life into the Man of Steel. But cor blimey, what happened here? The direction feels as muddled as a Boris Johnson press conference, with about as much coherent vision.
The film desperately needs what made the original Superman films special: heart, hope, and a dash of that classic Christopher Reeve charm. Instead, we get a CGI-heavy mess that’s trying so hard to be relevant it forgets to be entertaining.
Save your tenner. This is more of a “wait for streaming and fold laundry while watching” kind of film. The IMAX experience just makes the disappointment bigger.
It makes Batman v Superman look like The Godfather. Even the much-maligned Justice League had moments of genuine excitement this feels like a corporate PowerPoint presentation about heroism.
Given DC’s track record, probably. Should there be? About as much as we need another Love Island spin-off.
Look, I wanted to love this. We all did. But sometimes, you’ve got to call a spade a spade, and this Superman reboot is about as super as a paper airplane in a hurricane. If you’re desperate for some superhero action, might I suggest rewatching The Boys instead?
In a year that’s given us some proper brilliant superhero fare, Superman 2025 feels like a relic from a bygone era of franchise filmmaking one that should’ve stayed buried in the Fortress of Solitude. Share your thoughts below if you’ve seen it, or save yourself two hours and just enjoy the memes that are surely coming.
Rating: (out of 5)