‘Superman’ Has One Glaring Problem, and James Gunn Needs To Fix It

Superman is a successful proof of concept for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s revamped DCU, landing solid reviews and strong box office numbers, even if the latter is projected to fall somewhat short of certain expectations. It hasn’t been without its share of detractors, but the film largely delivered on what it promised for Gunn’s take on DC’s mightiest hero.

Superman is undeniably a lot of fun, but there’s one nagging issue that has to do with the Kryptonian himself, and it’s not the film’s surprising switch-up of the character’s reasons for being sent to Earth. David Corenswet makes for a solid Superman, but he often ends up playing second fiddle in his own movie. Gunn has made it clear he didn’t want his Superman to be completely invulnerable, but it’s hard not to wish he had been able to cut loose just a little bit more.

How ‘Superman’ Sets Itself Apart (for Better or Worse)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Superman had to quickly differentiate itself from other takes on the character, particularly the most recent round of films overseen by Zack Snyder. One of the biggest critiques of Snyder’s take has been that his Man of Steel (played by Henry Cavill) felt too aloof and removed from humanity, lacking the warmth and Boy Scout earnestness built into the character from his comic book origins. By contrast, Gunn’s Superman is all too human, even with his super strength and laser eyes. As he reminds the audience towards the end of the film, he makes a lot of mistakes, but his humanity is a strength, not a weakness.

It’s a strong sentiment, and certainly sets Gunn’s take apart from his most recent predecessor, but it also makes the film somewhat less satisfying from a viewer’s perspective. It’s true that a Superman with no weaknesses and god-like abilities isn’t all that interesting, lacking the necessary stakes that make for compelling drama. More than one writer of the character’s comics has echoed this sentiment over the years, and Gunn was smart to build this into his version of the character.

David Corenswet as Superman in Superman flying near a building

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But by the same token, viewers can’t be faulted for wanting to see a Superman who’s at least a little bit more capable and in control of his power. Superman‘s version of Supes is almost always overmatched by his foes, frequently needing to be bailed out by his reluctant colleagues in the “Justice Gang” and even his ill-behaved foster dog Krypto. Gunn has situated his Superman at an early point in his heroic career in this film, so some number of newbie growing pains are to be expected, but watching this Superman get handed his red underwear so often ends up feeling a bit frustrating. The film finally lets him cut loose in the climactic battle against Lex Luthor’s (Nicolas Hoult) robotic soldiers, and true to form, it’s one of the most satisfying moments.

The Challenges of Adapting Superman

David Corenswet Looking Angry as Superman — Warner Bros. Pictures

This isn’t to say that the movie should have gone too far in the other direction, making Superman able to dispatch any foe without a struggle, as that would likely have been just as frustrating in its own way. Placing him so continually out of his depth makes sense for this inexperienced version of the character, but also ends up inadvertently making this first outing less wholly satisfying than it could be. It’s possible that Superman will be allowed to step into his power more in subsequent movies (if they get made), but it shouldn’t necessarily take a whole other movie to give audiences what they really want to see.

This Cameo in ‘Superman’ Makes an Earlier Lex Luthor Scene Even More Important

There were quite a few fun cameos in James Gunn’s ‘Superman,’ but this particular cameo makes a scene with Lex Luthor even more important.

This tricky balance has been an issue with the character since the beginning, and other adaptations have struggled with it in their own ways. Where the Snyderverse Superman felt lacking in humanity, Bryan Singer’s version in Superman Returns, played by Brandon Routh, felt a little too somber, also wanting for warmth in a different way from Snyder’s version. Richard Donner’s films still hold the gold standard, even though they tip the scales too far towards god-like at times, especially in the first film’s time-reversing climax.

Superman makes the point that nobody can handle everything on their own, and that even the strongest among us need to open ourselves up to help from others, which is a powerful message at a time when the very American ideal of individualism is being increasingly interrogated. Whereas an all-powerful, completely noble hero with no flaws might have resonated more with audiences in previous generations, it feels increasingly out of touch these days. Gunn’s take on the character is quietly radical while still deeply indebted to the comics. But those same things that set this Superman apart are also what end up holding it back somewhat as a piece of pure entertainment.