*** This article contains SPOILERS from Superman. If you would have not yet seen the movie and would prefer it wasn't spoiled for you, don't read on. ***
There's a lot to celebrate in James Gunn's new Superman movie: The visuals are incredible, the characters are fresh, and the suit has TRUNKS! It brings back everything we love about Superman, from his primary color design to his simple ambition for Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow. I spent the movie laughing, crying, and punching the air, leaving in high spirits and feeling ready to take on the world. James Gunn really made the DC Universe-opener feel like a comic book movie, with all of the goofiness, earnestness and never-ending quest to do good that comes with the territory.
I feel like this is best captured in one particular scene of the movie (be warned, some SPOILERS are ahead). Clark's conversation with Lois about how they're so different sees Lois say that she's just too punk rock for him.; that she questions everything and he just trusts everyone he meets. And Clark says "Maybe that's the real punk rock."
And that's the thing: It totally is! That's not to say Lois is wrong: it's good to push back against the status quo—to challenge boundaries and expectations. But the cynicism and apathy that lead to a lack of trust in people—in a lack of hope—have created not just the 'superhero fatigue' we've been seeing in the genre, but a life fatigue. A lot of people truly don't see the point in things anymore.
And Superman came in to say: 'No, actually. We're going to care. We're going to care about everyone so much despite it not being the popular thing to do.' Superman turned himself in so Krypto the Superdog would feel less alone. Superman paused in the final fight of the movie to tell his combatants that it wasn't too late for them to do the right thing. Superman saved a squirrel in the middle of a monster fight. What is punk if not something that is counterculture? What is more radical than reckless hope? Than loving with wild abandon?
We don't need Superman to be dark and brooding. We don't need him grappling with the darkness of humanity. That's why we have Batman. We don't need Superman to be Batman 2.0. We need him to be Superman. And in this movie, he does a truly excellent job.
Superman is now theaters.
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