I’m not a lifelong comic book reader. I grew up more on manga than Superman panels. So maybe some deep-cut references in James Gunn’s Superman went over my head. But even so, I came in hopeful, because I do love superhero movies, but with this one? I walked away feeling…whelmed.

This version of Superman doesn’t feel like a god among mortals. He’s not inspiring awe or commanding presence like you’d expect from the strongest being on Earth. In fact, right from the opening scene, he’s beaten and bloody. Gunn’s Superman gets hurt a bit too easily for me, seems a bit too jokey, and doesn’t feel all that different from a powered-up civilian with flight perks. Think Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, but with heat vision and an alien backstory.

If The Boys and Invincible have shown us anything, it’s that Superman-type characters can still feel intimidating and complex. Gunn’s Kal-El? He’s sweet, well-meaning, and very much a boy scout, but at times he just… fades into the background of his own movie.

The casting here is quite spot-on. David Corenswet does a solid job with what he’s given. He’s got the look, some solid comedic timing, and good chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane, who really brings that tenacious investigative reporter energy. Their scenes together? Easily some of the best in the film, when the movie slows down long enough to let them be characters.

Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor? He’s the standout. Cold, calculating, envious… he’s got the presence that Superman lacked. Maria Gabriela de Faria as The Engineer also brings some real spark to the chaos. The extended ensemble (Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho, Edi Gathegi’s Mr. Terrific) was compelling enough that I almost wish they had a bit more to do.

But for all the talent, the film felt like it never let them breathe. It jumps from moment to moment, rarely building tension or making the stakes feel earned.

Let me give credit where it’s due: the visualization of the Kryptonite’s effect? Stunning. The way it literally infects him, visually and emotionally I guess, was one of the few times the movie gave us something new. I really liked that anaphylaxis effect it has on him. And while I wasn’t vibing with Krypto (sorry dog lovers, but the cute sidekick bit felt forced, and I don’t think that I not so well behaved dog is that cute), I do appreciate how Gunn tried to show Superman as grounded as possible.

But man, I kept waiting for one unforgettable action sequence. Something epic. Something I’d want to rewatch. And it never came. Not once.

What frustrated me most wasn’t that the movie was “bad.” It’s that it had potential, a lot of it. There were hints of big ideas: what does it mean to be good in a cynical world? Is Superman still relevant in a culture that laughs at his idealism? But Gunn seemed more interested in undercutting those ideas with jokes than sitting with them.

It doesn’t help that the film feels bloated and underexplained. Lex’s hatred for Superman is barely explored until the very end, and even then, it’s played for a laugh. It’s like the movie assumed we all walked in already loving these characters, and just skipped to the splash page.

In the end, Superman is… fine. It’s watchable. It’s occasionally funny. It has heart. But it’s not the bold, mythic, compelling take I was hoping for. If Snyder’s Superman was too heavy, this one might’ve gone too light. Somewhere in the middle lies the version I wanted to see.

I still think Gunn is a strong world-builder. But maybe not every hero needs to fit his tonal mold. Here’s hoping future DCU entries find a better balance.

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