“Superman” brings back the fun

There is no superhero more recognizable than Superman. The blue tights, the red cape, and the "S" emblazoned on his chest are all core to the character's look. The other key to what makes the Man of Steel an iconic character is his personality. He is commonly referred to as "the big blue boy scout" due to his optimistic outlook and sense of justice. We have not seen that version on screen for a long time, but with the release of "Superman," that version is back, and it could not be more timely.

Superman (David Corenswet) finds himself up against Lex Luthor (Nicholas Holt) as the billionaire takes his efforts to discredit Superman to the next level.

I recently came across a post online that claimed Superman is not a police officer; he is a firefighter. His primary concern is saving people: in one scene, he saves a squirrel. Early in the movie, Superman is in the Fortress of Solitude and sees that Krypto (his dog) has made a mess. His response, "What the hey dude?" Superman won't even curse. That is who this character is, and David Corenswet is perfectly suited for that. That line could be incredibly cheesy, but Corenswet delivers it with such sincerity that it works. He makes this version of the character the ultimate do-gooder, and that is precisely who Superman is meant to be.

What I love most about "Superman" is that it just drops you into this world. The movie opens with text to set the scene, but we receive no further introduction. As an audience, we have been watching superhero movies for over a decade and don't need an explanation for every monster and superhero. We just go with it. It does a great job of knowing the audience and keeping things simple in the process.

I could go on and on about this movie. Rachel Brosnahan gives us a fantastic Lois Lane, Nicholas Holt is one of the best Lex Luthors ever, Edi Gathegi steals the movie as Mr. Teriffic, and I love what they did with Krypto the Superdog. As the beginning of the new DC movie universe, this is a super start (pun intended).

9/10

PG-13 for violence, action, and language

2h 9m