Superman Isn’t Trying to Be Political. We Just Have Real-Life Supervillains Now.

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As a die-hard movie fan, if I were to trade my entire kingdom for Krypto, the super-powered pooch, it would be a no-brainer! He’s a charming scoundrel, this fluffy ball of white fur, who turns heads with his one ear cocked in an endearing way, only to defy expectations by disregarding commands.

His recall is impressive – just whistle and he’ll race towards you like a bullet. But beware! He’s a bundle of boundless energy, prone to destructive tendencies, easily sidetracked, and greets people with an exuberance that could potentially be harmful. If Krypto were human, he’d probably be the life of any party – but in dog form, he needs some serious intervention!

A rigorous training program is definitely on his to-do list, and more stimulation and exercise are a must. However, given that his guardian is preoccupied with the intricacies of saving the world, a little neglect is inevitable. But hey, who needs a kingdom when you’ve got Krypto, right?

In a fresh interpretation of the Superman story by writer-director James Gunn, Krypto takes center stage. The film opens with Superman (David Corenswet) falling in Antarctica after losing his first fight, followed by a beating from Krypto before being rescued. This prominent role is partly due to Gunn’s love for dogs – Krypto was based on and 3D modeled from his rescue dog, Ozu. The affection for the computer-generated animal is evident in every scene. However, Krypto’s prominence also serves a purpose: it signifies that this version of Superman will be flawed, as opposed to the usual serious portrayals seen in big-screen adaptations. Krypto, introduced in 1955, embodies the goofy and lighthearted aspects often overlooked in superhero movies. Gunn uses Krypto to show that his take on Superman will be less than perfect and to hint at the charmingly dorky tone the movie will adopt.

Throughout his career, Gunn has been preparing for his current position as the head of DC Studios. His journey began at the iconic film studio Troma, then moved on to directing unconventional takes on genres like Slither and Super, while also penning Scooby-Doo adaptations. He later created the critically acclaimed Guardians of the Galaxy movies, which are considered the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s finest achievements. Gunn’s affection for this source material is evident, but he approaches it with a unique blend of earnestness and humor, giving his new movie a refreshing feel after years of somber DC action.

Gunn doesn’t sensationalize Superman, instead, he revisits the character’s origins as the creation of two Jewish American men who fled persecution, mirroring Superman’s own refugee background. In this portrayal, played skillfully by Corenswet with a mix of confidence and innocent frustration, Superman is both an all-American farm boy from Kansas and an alien survivor from a destroyed civilization, embodying the dual identities many immigrants face.

In Gunn’s Superman, the public turns against him after he intervenes to prevent a war between nations and delves into global politics. While the story doesn’t need to be overtly political to feel relevant, its timeliness is undeniable.

In a similar vein, there’s no need to portray James Eisenhower (Lex Luthor, played by Nicholas Hoult) as a mix of Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and someone intellectually superior. These real-world figures have been drifting towards Luthor-like behavior for quite some time now. What’s interesting about Gunn’s interpretation of the supervillain is that it shows how he transforms his personal feelings of envy and anger into a perceived public advantage, as if the world would undeniably profit from his relentless pursuit of self-interest, even if that means triggering global crises and tearing apart the very fabric of reality. Luthor views himself as the most significant individual in the world, with the freedom to act as he pleases — while Superman, who truly is unique, grapples with the constant fear of not meeting his perceived duty left by his Kryptonian parents (Bradley Cooper and Angela Sarafyan, in a brief appearance). The film also explores how we often make simple values such as saving children’s lives more complex and unclear. However, it doesn’t resort to heavy-handedness, and there’s still plenty of enjoyable, lighthearted moments included.

In this reimagined Superman film, Rachel Brosnahan portrays a mature and engaging Lois Lane who engages in lively debates with Clark Kent about his secret identity’s actions and seems electrified by the prospect of uncovering news stories. Edi Gathegi delivers a witty performance as Mister Terrific, part of a corporate-funded trio of superheroes that includes Green Lantern Guy Gardner, played by Nathan Fillion with flair, and a nonchalant Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl. Skyler Gisondo steals the show as a charismatic Jimmy Olsen, while Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell bring warmth to their portrayals of the Kent family, Superman’s adoptive parents. The film assumes a world where Superman has been public knowledge for years and is dating Lois Lane. Metahumans are commonplace enough that Lex Luthor is advocating for military funding for his own team. This setting allows for heartfelt conversations between Superman and Lois in the midst of superpowered characters battling an ethereal interdimensional creature. Given our exposure to superhero cinema over the past two decades, the decision to bypass yet another origin story in favor of fresh perspectives such as Krypto, soaring through the skies after one of Luthor’s monkey-operated rage-tweeting minions from a pocket dimension, is commendable. How adorable!

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2025-07-08 22:54