The DC Universe can breathe a sigh of relief as the Man of Steel brought in the big bucks–$125 million in North America– to the opening weekend of Superman, starring David Corenswet.
There was so much on the line for DC as director James Gunn gave a new interpretation of an iconic superhero character whose recent cinematic outings were poorly received. Plus, who can ever live up to Christopher Reeves’ legacy?
Another weighty factor: this new Superman is the first film in a relaunched cinematic universe that unspools with next summer’s Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock of House of the Dragon fame.
Yes, stay through all of the credits for a further peek after her uncredited cameo, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
I saw the film at a pact screening at the Writers Guild theater in Beverly Hills, so crowded that we had to sit front row, sort of a pseudo-IMAX experience. One thing about being in an industry crowd is the laughter at inside jokes that you often don’t get at regular theaters, and there were a number of those outbursts.
It took a minute to get used to seeing Corenswet as Superman and as Clark Kent, and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, as she stuck in our minds as the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Same with Lex Luthor being portrayed by Nicholas Hoult, whom we’d last admired as the numb-skulled Russian King Peter in The Great.
But bravo to all of them.
Superman doesn’t waste a lot of time with his well-known origin story, but springs us right into the center of the action as his legacy as the most powerful meta-human on Earth is imperiled after he tried but failed to prevent a war.
We also meet his canine co-hort, Krypto the superdog, who has been seen to save the day.
Other lighter moments are provided by Luthor’s selfie-obsessed girlfriend, played by Sara Sampaio. She will wake up to the fact that she’s capturing valuable information in the background of these photos that will be extremely helpful in the battle of the ages between Superman and his nemesis.
That comes after Superman share some touching moments with his parents, portrayed here by Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell.
In addition to the elements of romance and comedy, there are real-world parallels when Superman is roughed up by masked agents who slam him into street pavement before locking him in a detention facility with other inmates.
Yet you still know that in this movie at least, Superman will save the day.
