James Gunn aims to revamp Superman

A lot is riding on the back of the new Superman cinematic project as he flies into theaters on July 11. Originally titled Superman: Legacy, Superman is the first feature film in James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe and sets things up for future films and television shows.

The story begins by textually flying through the ages and transporting the audience quickly into the action. We see an upgraded Fortress of Solitude with visually pleasing special effects as Superman battles enemies hellbent on destroying him on several levels. Barely holding onto his secret identity as Clark Kent has the alien from Krypton attempts to live in peace in the big city of Metropolis after leaving Smallville and his adoptive parents behind.

He works at the Daily Planet as a reporter and his alter ego is viewed as a threat by the CEO of LuthorCorp named Lex Luthor. Metahumans and humans converge to battle it out while exploring what it means to be human in a country captivated by computerized media.

James Gunn is the writer, director and co-CEO of DC Studios pulling out his usual bag of tricks, including clever humor, dynamic fight sequences backed by uplifting music and wacky, sometimes obscure, comic book characters. Superman has previously had a case of perfectionism in his various depictions, complete with unlimited power levels at times and now, James cures this by making him weaker and vulnerable.

The players are smartly cast and stay in their individual lanes while showcasing entertaining qualities not always fitting into a traditional box or being trapped by long histories from past writers.

David Corenswet personifies an adopted alien who fights to fit in while focusing on his human side and supplies a wide range of vocal inflections. Rachel Brosnahan is a standout as Lois Lane and serves up smart journalistic duties. The Daily Planet staff investigates stories and conducts interviews to move the plot along.

The secondary characters have moments to shine and the audience can pick their favorite throughout the adventure. The Justice Gang, including Hawkgirl, is a hoot to watch battle the bots.

Longtime fans and those with limited knowledge of Superman will have much to see and celebrate without doing a large amount of homework.

Superman's pet Krypto debuted way back in 1955 and Gunn was inspired to model the onscreen version after his terrier Ozu. The full computerized canine sometimes looks like an unrealistic puppet after the crew originally tried to train a dog named Jolene for the task, but it didn't work out. Besides Kryptonite, there's no bones about it as a glowing weakness to Superman this time out, although it adds to the overall animated ambience.

Zach Snyder approached the Detective Comics characters with a gritty mood similar to the serious Marvel Cinematic Universe and this endeavor offers a lighter tone similar to the comic books. This decided direction provides an easier transition to the offbeat humor and ridiculousness of the situations that are set in motion.

Snyder was never interested in world-building, but Gunn is and this is just the trigger.

Certain lines from Superman are punctuated in homage to the original film, while they don't always land, it shows the effort the 58-year-old Gunn put into his project. It's a love letter to Superman: The Movie, released in 1978 to reinvigorate his legacy.

There is a noticeable political element folded into the tale, with Kal-El immigrating from another place. Actor Nicholas Hoult crosses over from X-Men: First Class to explore this universe as Lex Luthor, a rich, white narcissist. Luthor uses the fictional country of Barovia for personal gain and warps the truth to villainize the superhero. This is all noticeable but not as heavy-handed as it sounds.

Gunn and the gang believe that good will eventually triumph over evil in multiple realms. Even though he is from a different planet, Superman is out to make the world a better place and gives hope for the future. That's something everyone can benefit from watching happen in theaters this summer, “up, up and away!”