It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman

Published 12:38 pm Tuesday, July 29, 2025

This week at The Tryon Theatre is “Superman”, the newest adaption of the iconic comic book character, and one that breathes refreshing new life into this long dormant franchise. This film is directed by the experienced and talented James Gunn, whose track record for successfully and lovingly adapting comic source material is nearly unrivaled. Gunn is perhaps best known for his “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014-2023) trilogy, which expertly captured the anticipated balance of appeal in a comic book itself: both heart and humor in spades, without ever sacrificing the stakes of action and peril that propel the story forward. Of course, all excellent direction aside, a Superman movie hinges on the casting of the eponymous larger than life crime fighter, on finding the right actor to embody his unique blend of heroism, humility, and humanity. 

If “Superman” has done nothing else right, it succeeded in this field of casting, with the statuesque David Corenswet filling the iconic red boots. Corenswet brings a believable physicality to the role, his hulking frame conveying a great ferocity of strength, with his wholesome Norman Rockwell features anchoring the character’s boyishly moral charm. Since 1938, Superman has captured the hearts and imaginations of the American public, representing the best of our country’s ideals, a bastion of self sacrifice and compassion, an uplifting beacon of hope. Despite his own tremendous set of powers, Superman has long inspired heroism in others, his greatest strength being his generosity of spirit, a power everyone has the potential to use. In highest praise of the film, “Superman” succeeds in finding that emotional footing for the titular character, crafting a super hero movie that is not only fun, but also genuinely moving, one that will find an audience cheering for the triumph of good over evil.

In conceiving the narrative this film takes a bold, and frankly appreciated step, seeking not to provide an origin story for the character, sidestepping that overtrodden and often tedious territory. “Superman” exists in an established and realized world, years into the hero’s tenure as the savior of Metropolis. This film doesn’t depict any inceptive aspects of the famous character, instead dropping us squarely in the satisfying middle, where Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and The Fortress of Solitude are all assumed to be known by the audience, requiring no bloated exposition. The enjoyment of any iteration of Superman comes from a certain predictability of adaptation from the source material. “Superman” is no departure from the desired hallmarks, while nonetheless feeling fresh and dynamic in its story, satisfying and energizing. 

In terms of tone, “Superman” walks an expectedly PG-13 line, with plenty of dangerous action to get the adrenaline pumping, while never losing sight of its purity of spirit. This film is certainly family friendly fun, appealing to a broad range of ages, but is perhaps too robust in its scope of superhero spectacle for the youngest members of our audience, who might be overwhelmed by the high flying freneticism of the film’s numerous fight sequences. For any appropriately aged audience member the entertainment value of “Superman” is a guarantee, with the promise of feeling inspired and uplifted close behind. We hope all will join us in looking up to the sky for “Superman”!