Kindness is a superpower in James Gunn’s ‘Superman’

James Gunn has a knack for turning sentimentality into an epic blockbuster, which is why the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy is well-loved among superhero fans. Now that the CEO of DC Studios has performed his swan song from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he kicks off the rebooted DC Universe with his take on Superman.

After a string of skeptical interpretations of the Man of Steel, including Zack Snyder’s darker take a decade ago, a horror origin story through “Brightburn” (which Gunn produced), and a tyrannical parody through Homelander in “The Boys”, it’s refreshing for Gunn to deliver his version of why this alien in human form, wearing a blue jumpsuit with a big S on his chest, is such a pop culture icon in the first place, and a much-needed voice of reason in today’s political climate.

Gunn doesn’t waste time rehashing Superman’s origin story. It’s established that Clark Kent (David Corenswet) has already been living a double life as Superman, a household name in Metropolis and around the world, for three years, and that his co-worker and love interest, Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), is well aware of his secret.

The film jumps right into the action as Superman finds himself at the center of a geopolitical crisis after preventing an invasion of Jarhanpur by Boravia, a U.S. ally. While he has saved lives, his intervention sparks mixed opinions among the public, and security officials on both sides view him as a huge threat.

But no one holds a grudge harder than war billionaire and arms dealer Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who feels Superman is getting in the way of his company’s partnership with Boravia, who is supplying them with weapons. In retaliation, he launches an effective smear campaign that distorts the public’s perception of the once-beloved superhero.

Sensing that Lex has an ulterior motive, Superman begins to investigate his true endgame, with help from Lois, Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), his foster dog Krypto, and a few unlikely allies along the way.

Gunn’s version is very much a Superman film made for our current times. It’s difficult to separate the film’s themes from the sociopolitical circumstances in which it is being released.

Misinformation on social media plays a significant role in the story as troll bots are actually part of Lex’s minions. An imperial nation invades another country with implied genocide, echoing the ongoing wars in Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine, alongside a subtle critique of the inaction of global superpowers and their reliance on private companies to do their job for them. And of course, it’s not a Superman story without him feeling like an unwelcome immigrant because he’s an alien from another planet.

Predictably, right-wing commentators have been quick to accuse this take on Superman of being politically correct, using their hijacked definition of “woke,” while ignoring the character’s political origins, created in response to the anti-Semitism that the Jewish people faced during World War II.

Gunn repackages Clark’s idealism for a modern audience. Not everyone has to be on the same page, but understanding a person’s desire to be good and to do good for others through Clark is perhaps something Gunn felt was lost in today’s polarizing political climate, amplified by the culture wars on social media.

The film doesn’t offer a magic bullet to solve all problems, but rather a gentle reminder that kindness and empathy go a long way.

“Maybe kindness is the new punk rock,” says Clark when Lois tells him he loves everybody too much. For Clark, kindness is an act of rebellion against Lex Luthor’s prejudice toward him and the greed that has made society so divided.

Corenswet perfectly embodies Gunn’s vision of Clark Kent and Superman, as if he were born to hold the ideals that the character has carried since 1938. Brosnahan also perfectly plays Lois, who is more of a pragmatist in line with her duty as a journalist, but ultimately shares Superman’s cause in pursuit of truth and justice.

Their performances and contrasting personalities create strong chemistry as an on-screen couple, something Gunn intended by making sure his Clark and Lois were cast together, not separately.

Hoult pulls off an Elon Musk-esque take on Lex Luthor effortlessly, serving as a perfect contrast to Clark’s idealism, backed by Corenswet’s wholesome performance that complements Hoult’s ruthless portrayal.

Scene-stealers came from the so-called “Justice Gang,” consisting of Edi Gathegi’s determined Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as the egotistical Guy Gardner (one of the Green Lanterns), and Isabela Merced’s effortlessly nonchalant take on Hawkgirl.

As the introduction to the new DC Universe, where some lore is already in place and a few superheroes co-exist with Superman, the film doesn’t delve too deeply into universe-building just yet, allowing it to breathe and stand on its own.

It’s incredibly refreshing, especially as studios often fixate on exposition in favor of impactful storytelling. This is a testament to Gunn’s storytelling skill, having handled large-scale universe-building in his previous work for Marvel Studios.

An underrated aspect of the film is its colorful cinematography. Even in its darkest scenes, everything is visible, which might seem like a minor point, but is sorely needed today, as many blockbusters and even TV shows suffer from frustratingly dark lighting.

The best part of the whole story is that it’s not just Superman saving the world. Despite his shaky relationship with the Justice Gang, they ultimately help him when he can’t do everything alone. The print journalists at the Daily Planet, including Lois, also have a role in defending the planet. Krypto, hyper and stubborn as he may be, proves to be a good boy to Clark. Even a surprising mole in Lex Luthor’s camp contributes in a small but impactful way to helping Superman’s cause.

What Gunn is trying to say in this film is that kindness can be a superpower, not a weakness. It shapes our humanity and how we see the world. Extending kindness in times of peril can inspire others. Everyone can be a superhero, and this new Superman makes us feel like we can fly too, which is the perfect way to kick off this new cinematic universe for DC. Four stars out of five.