Superman (2025) isn't a movie by someone who studied Richard Donner's Superman. It's a movie by someone who studied Christopher Reeve's performance in Superman. David Corenswet gives Clark Kent/Superman a Reeve's like charisma even though he falls short of giving his Superman a Reeve's like presence.

The cast here outstrips the dialogue. Unlike prior Superman movies everyone can act. Rachel Brosnahan is a modern update to Hildy Johnson's fast talking 1940s reporter in His Girl Friday. She's sharp, a bit spikey, and wants the scoop. Her chemistry with Corenswet sparks on the screen. Nicholas Hoult impresses as the malignant narcissist Lex Luthor. This is Luthor as a long term strategist. The Luthor who looks at Superman and sees the end of human progress. Why strive and claw your way forward as a species when entities with the powers of the gods of legend can solve your worst problems? If they choose to, that is. Luthor is evil but his argument that in a world of super beings the future of humanity bends towards decline and helplessness gnaws away at you when the movie focuses on it.

The central conflict, Luthor seeing Superman as the end, is compelling enough but DC Studios needed to jumpstart their slate of future projects so they overreached. The script bulges with franchise additions. I'd have enjoyed this more were it 90 minutes. But you know what? Superman is a hero again in this movie. He doesn't break anyone's neck to end a fight nor would you think he would. It's a return to optimism for the character.     

Kids will like it. The music is John Williams via swelling choirs, guitars and electronic distortion. If you need two hours of air conditioning relief from the summer heat this will show you a bit more than the latest Jurassic World does. Though I find myself in the uncomfortable position of liking this movie more the further away I get from seeing it.