Trailer:
“There are only three things people like to read. Catastrophe, sex, and Superman!”
Unlike Batman Returns the word “returns” here actually has some significance to the actual film. Director Brian Singer left his X-Men series to pursue the personal dream of directing a Superman film in the likeness of Richard Donner. The unfortunate reality though is that Superman Returns is far more effective as a tribute than it is as a stand alone film.
The movie opens to the classic opening from the original four films. After having not heard or seen it since this summer, I have to admit hearing that iconic score again did bring a kind of smile to my face. From there we see Superman return to earth after having been gone for five years in search of his home world. But nothing is as he remembers it. Lois is married with a child, Lex Luthor has dropped off the radar, and the world has moved on without him.
The film is best within those parameters and it is a great central concept that takes Superman back to his roots from the original film where he feels alone and out of place. That’s not the only thing that feels like the original film, though. In fact so many things are snatched from Richard Donner that it’s borderline thievery.
It has been almost twenty years since the previous film so this loose sequel has no other choice than to replace the original cast with look a-likes and impersonators. First on the list of credits is Brandon Routhe. Now he was far from terrible and did the best he could with the direction given to him, but I never got the sense he was playing HIS version of Superman. No, Routh was just playing Christopher Reeve playing Superman and unfortunately did not have the leeway or naturalism to pull the roll off in as fun of a manner as his predecessor. His Clark Kent is particularly boring and it is never really believable that anyone would have a hard time seeing who he is. He also really doesn't have the build for Superman either, even if his face looks like Reeve's. Routhe unfortunately is kind of a skinny but well toned guy. Not exactly what you think of for Superman.
Meanwhile Margo Kidder is replaced with boring stone face Kate Brosworth. She lacks Kidder’s energy, personality, but most importantly her comedy. Sure she may be way more attractive but couldn’t be duller. But the main problem with the two leads is not so much their performance individually but a lack of chemistry of any kind. Kidder and Reeves were a blast to watch when on screen together. They were funny and romantic at the same time. Here they just kind of stare at one another with blank expressions.
The only real- well I won’t say better- but equal actor to the original was a great casting of Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor. He plays a much more menacing villain than Gene Hackman’s version of the character. The only time his performance is dragged down is when….again…..he is directed to play the roll comedic like Hackman. These parts just feel a little forced and less natural than when Spacey is just doing his own thing and being one helluva good Lex.
Yet there is no denying that Luthor’s plan in this film is even more ludicrous and ridiculous than the previous films (and that’s saying a lot). Here he wants to use magic crystals he stole from Superman to create a new continent and everyone will have to pay him to live there after the rest of the world floods. I’m sorry but with only three henchmen and a helicopter, what is stopping a nation from blowing him up and just taking the land? When sinking California starts sounding like a more viable option….you know you’ve got a problem.
To make matters all the worst the film builds up to a very lackluster and roundabout conclusion which is so simple, yet so illogical and senseless that I just stop caring around the end. It is just pretty incoherent when you consider what happened minutes before with Superman getting his ass handed to him just from standing on the kryptonite island.
So the film is definitely not without it’s faults when it comes to the plot and characterization. The film also is heavy handed and overly melodramatic at times. One of the things I applauded the Donner film(s) for was not taking Superman too seriously and injecting a lot of comedy into it. This film tries for a little comedy but the majority of what’s there falls flat.
Still the film has some tremendously good scenes in it such as the bittersweet flight with Lois, Lex beating Superman to a pulp, and the return scene that was so extravagant that it made you feel the same way as the people in the film. “He’s Back! (especially after being gone from the big screen for so long)” Unfortunately you then realize all these great scene are crammed between slow, boring conversations that lack any real momentum.
So in the end Superman Returns is a mixed bag. The characters and plot are kind of lackluster but it has an interesting concept at its core. Despite not having a physical foe to fight the effects are still pretty cool and entertaining to watch (though admittedly get a little cartoonish at times). Though at times you do wish Superman had something else to do besides just catching falling objects. It just lacks the power and chemistry of the original leads and the sense of adventure and fun that made the first two so memorable.
FINAL RATING: 5/10- (50%)
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