Superman Returns
“Superman (big-screen newcomer and Christopher Reeves look-alike Brandon Routh) Returns” literally, after five years in space. As the opening title card tells us he had gone in search of his home planet Krypton after astronomers found it to make certain with his own eyes that all of his people were gone. Perhaps not coincidentally, Clark Kent returns. He was abroad, traveling the world, but his boss Perry White (Frank Langella, misused) and especially photographer Jimmy Olson (Sam Huntington) welcome him back as a reporter for the daily planet with open arms. But a lot has changed since Superman/Clark Kent left. Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth, not bad), for one has a young son, Jason (Tristen Lake Leabu), a fiancé named Richard (James Marsden), and a Pulitzer, courtesy of an article she wrote entitled “Why the world doesn’t need Superman.” Superman/Clark is understandably a little hurt.
Also, Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey, not quite onto tone but at times having a ball) is out of prison, apparently because Superman doesn’t respect Miranda rights and wasn’t available to testify at his parole hearing, and so a double life sentence became five years in prison. Lex soon has a plan to kill billions (his words, hundreds of millions seems more accurate) and he’s stacked with Kryptonite after a visit to the North Pole lair of Superman in case the two should cross paths. And so it goes. But, really, enough of the setup; how is the film, how is the much discussed and awaited return of the man of steel?
Let’s start with young Mr. Routh. He is passable. He is able to give us two different characters-Clark and Superman-and he is able to do so somewhat convincingly, but he will need to get better and the screenwriters will have to give him more to get better with for the revamped franchise to grow. Something that Mr. Routh has no power over though is his odd looking rubber suit and the often unbelievable special effects which we must suffer often. The story is better for the human elements if sort of a yawn for the action details, for example, of Lex’s plan, and like I mentioned, Spacey doesn’t always shine as Luthor. What does shine is the overall look of the film (special effects action sequences aside).
The art direction, the creation of Metropolis and especially the Daily Planet is a beautiful convergence of modern and vintage, bringing in elements from the comic and the old films and combining them with something new to create a beautiful if not always realistic world. The same can be said for the Clark farm, which resonates with a dreamy surrealism. And, since this is a Bryan Singer film-who cut his teeth on the legendary “Usual Suspects” and then showed all superhero films don’t have to be terrible with the first two “X-men,”-we do get touches of human filmmaking which is rare with such a large budget. I liked the way this thing looked. I liked the choices for camera placement; I liked the elaborate set pieces, Luthor’s yacht, and scenes like the crowded Daily Planet elevator, with close to thirty patrons, all open newspapers. That had a feel of a film, not a superhero conglomerate. And the thing isn’t over-edited or scored like so many modern films. Singer is a filmmaker.
But, alas, even with all the emotional entanglements presented to superman, the thing devolves, and never gives Mr. Routh or his characters much time to evolve (saving time for the sequels no doubt). Instead, while we continue with the intrigue of the love triangle between Superman, Lois Lane, and Ricard White, we also continue with the by-the-numbers Lex Luthor is going to take over the world. Still, not bad.
Story: B- I like that the filmmakers didn’t feel the need to retread Superman’s origins, thus giving some modicum of respect to the original film. The love triangle, Superman’s absence, all good stuff…Lex Luthor? Just not that interesting or threatening.
Acting: B- Oddly disappointed in Spacey and Langella, two actors I admire greatly (Langella’s turn in “Unscripted” was the finest acting in years), Routh is alright…
Visuals: B- Love the art direction; the special effects falter under action.
Originality/Innovation: C+ Sort of gets worse the second half of the film.
Enjoyability Grade: B- Enjoyable enough though tempted to use the restroom during action sequences.
Overall Grade: Not so bad. B -
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