James Gunn’s biggest strength is taking the most obscure and bizarre characters and making an audience fall in love with them. He literally brings out the worst in them, shows us why they’re the way they are and then rehabilitates them for the viewers by focusing solely on their life. It’s so unique.
I was wondering how he’d apply this method to someone as colossal and well know as Superman but he’s managed to use the same technique, making a character that’s too big and grandiose for an audience to relate to… relatable. And he did this without losing his “super” side. He just honed into his humanity, especially while he was in “super” mode.
The first gem of this working? The fucking intro. I sat up straight when it went from “3 centuries ago…” to “3 minutes ago, Superman just lost his first fight.” Wow. Finally. An unexpected beginning for a very predictable character.
Then? The scene between Lois and Clark. The sheer helplessness of someone like Superman against twisted words meant to goad and frustrate. Don’t we all deal with the exact same things on an almost daily basis? Not only is this Lois critical of Superman but also willing to tell him as much. Plus, she isn’t sure if she loves him while knowing that he, someone a majority of the world would give anything to be with, definitely loves her.
Then!!! They show him fight a Kaiju-esque creature with only the intention to knock it out. I mean, he sucker punches it and then rushes to stop it from falling on a building full of people… then he saves a squirrel. What in the Superman is going oooon 😭
THENNN!!!!!!! They show us his parents. His gorgeous GORGEOUS midwestern-ass, delicate lil normal looking parents in their tiny farm house calling their son, proud of his writing and terrified for his life. More than anything else, they made me see who Clark Kent was and why his Superman was so precious about every kind of life. This dorky, self-conscious, overthinking, frustrated, emotional, but-will-still-not-curse Superman is a gem. Clark is a gem.
Plus, David’s acting is phenomenal. Yes yes his switch up from Superman to Clark is cool but more than that? The frustration in every line of his face when he talks to Lois, the exasperation whenever Krypto is around, the sheer delight at writing his article and getting it published on the front page, the desperation to find his cousin’s pet, the agony of being around Kryptonite, the most genuine and wholesome earnestness that literally CARRIED the movie…
Sigh. I’m officially a Superman fan and it’s because of the writing, direction, and acting in this comic-accurate portrayal of Clark-you-clumsy-oaf-Kent.
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