James Gunn (best known for the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films) is the creative force behind this reboot and it shows in his saucy approach. There’s also a group of other metahumans who help in the fight against the latest scheme by Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult not doing anything special with the role). David Corenswet takes a mostly serious approach to the title character, esp. since he’s grappling with his true purpose on the planet. As Lois Lane, Rachael Brosnahan brings the same snappy charm she did for her seminal Mrs. Maisel. The biggest change is the addition of other DC comics heroes, a blatant “product placement” for future films and the SuperDog. This Superman suffers more emotionally and physically than any before, making him more vulnerable. Is that what we want in The Man of Steel? While it’s visually cool and there are some enjoyable sequences, it also feels irreverent and messy, with the usual lifesaving theme taking a back seat to him surviving his own threats. Overall, there’s sufficient grist from the genre to make for popcorn fun, but this new version is too blatantly aimed at a more modern approach with wisecracks and noisy encounters cluttering up the basics. NOTE: There is one final scene after all the credits, but it’s not worth waiting for it. 
(3 / 5)
