By Kris Burke
As the new Superman movie franchise rises from the ashes of what came before, it does so at a rather perilous time for the comic book movie genre.
The DCEU, of which Superman was a part of, fizzled out. Even the mighty Marvel Cinematic Universe has had trouble getting positive momentum after the tremendous success of “Avengers: Endgame.”
Has the general audience tired of the superhero movie? Did the market become so saturated that people just got bored? Can anything bring back the heyday of comic book films? Which character can do that?
Throw in the state of world affairs and you see why heroic films may not exactly be high on the watch-list of the average moviegoer.
This is why the new DCU version of Superman is absolutely perfect for this time in history and might just be the franchise to carry comic book films for the near future.
James Gunn’s iteration of the Man of Steel is unabashedly kind and polite, even taking the time to acknowledge a new robot in the Fortress of Solitude while he’s fairly beat up.
While that might be a little cheesy to some people, it’s also quintessential Superman. In a world that has lost its way in terms of decency toward another human being, Superman holds a mirror to the human race and we’d be wise to take a hard look into it.
This version of the character is the perfect litmus test for all of us, the gold standard of how we should behave. For as vicious as the world can be, this Superman sure resonated with audiences if Rotten Tomatoes (90%) or CinemaScore (A-) had anything to say.
The film also struck the perfect political commentary, both about the United States and the world at large, without becoming overly preachy or too much tilted towards one side. Nowhere was this more evident than in Superman’s final passionate speech to Lex Luthor.
Screwing up all the time, but making the best choice you can, is being human, and that is our greatest strength. This humble writer did all he could to not stand up and cheer in the theater.
That message is the reminder we all need. In a time that can feel hopeless for so many people, this version of Superman oozes the optimism we all need at one point or another. As long as Gunn and David Corenswet can keep projecting it, people will continue to watch. It’s human nature to want to feel good about something. It’s what has made Superman endure for nearly 90 years now and it’s why his return to the big screen could not come at a more perfect time.
The fact Superman was the highest grossing comic book movie of the year proved that.
The movie’s earnest and fun tone combined with serious commentary on society seemed to be the perfect balance of a Superman movie fans and average viewer have been craving.
To paraphrase the movie’s synopsis, kindness might be a little old fashioned but it’ll always be needed. Especially in a world where anger and outrage seem to be the way to go.
Superman has always dared to be different, and that’s why he’s just the man to usher comic book movies into their next era. They need to be essential to who these characters are, but also be modern enough to make a proper commentary on the world, yet also have their own verisimilitude (to borrow Richard Donner’s favorite word).
With this year’s “Superman” movie, and if Gunn and company can strike the same tone going forward, including hopefully in next year’s “Supergirl”, then the Man of Steel will be up up and away at global box offices.
Like Superman says, he’s always around if we need him.
Boy oh boy, do we need you Superman.
Superman earned this victory.