This review of Superman Returns originally appeared in the July 6, 2006 Liberty Tribune newspaper.
By Steve Crum
In Superman Returns, our caped hero does not turn the world backward to relive time, but much of director Bryan Singer’s film seems lifted from 1978’s Superman: The Movie, including John Williams’ super score.
Nevertheless, this new take is a mixed treats bag well worth gobbling down. Homage to the classic 1950s TV series adds more surprises inside. OK, enough sweet metaphors for the eye candy flick of the summer.
Singer (The Usual Suspects and the first two X-Men movies ) and writers Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris have retooled The Man of Steel into a much more introspective guy given to quietly musing about the earth’s needs for him.
In one scene he floats in outer space, listening for sounds of turmoil around the world. We learn via TV newscasts that Superman has squashed evils in various countries during the past day. He is not limited to Metropolis crimes, as previous films have implied.
Coming close to sacrilege, Superman refers to himself as a savior the world needs. In addition, a sequence of Superman bursting through heavenly looking clouds, speeding to the rescue as a hallelujah chorus resounds, reinforces the movie’s religious edge. It is pretty eyebrow raising.
The plot is basically familiar with twists. Superman aka Clark Kent (Brandon Routh, a Christopher Reeve lookalike) crash lands via spaceship on his adopted parents’ farm after being out of planet—as opposed to out of town—for five years. Widowed Earth mom Martha (Eva Marie Saint) helps Clark recover from his fruitless, exhaustive search for traces of his Kryptonian family and similar beings like himself.
While away, crime has escalated. That includes recent evil doings by the world’s top criminal, Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey). Lex has just been paroled after spending the past five years in prison. In his brief time out of jail, he has ransacked Superman’s Fortress of Solitude 
and plans to obliterate the United States.
Not only that, Daily Planet reporter and Supie’s babe, Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) is engaged to Richard White (James Marsden aka X-Men’s Cyclops—but that’s another story entirely). AND Lois has a 5 year-old son with super powers. (Spoiler!) Hmm. Richard is editor Perry White’s (Frank Langella) nephew and assistant editor.
See what happens when you turn the back of your cape on things for a few years?
Memorable set pieces include Superman placing a jumbo jet smack in the middle of an ongoing Major League Baseball game, and battling both Lex Luthor and Kryptonite at his crystal fortress. There is also an extended romantic sequence (see Superman: The Movie) wherein he flies Lois in tender embrace over the evening Metropolis skyline.
Superman Returns takes itself seriously, which works OK. Superman is often sullen, and Lex is colder and more brutal than Gene Hackman’s 1978 characterization. Lex’s moll, Kitty (Parker Posey), is hard edged too, as are his henchmen. Perhaps this reflects the time in which we live, where sadistic real villains abound.
Substantial cameos are by Noel Neill and Jack Larson (TV’s Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, respectively). It’s heartening to see Larson hugging the new Jimmy Olsen, played by Sam Huntington.
Incidentally I increase the rating to an “A” by factoring in the fabulous IMAX version playing at the Olathe, Kansas AMC. Twenty minutes of jaw dropping 3D footage is included.
∞∞∞∞∞
GRADE based upon A-F Rating; B+
∞∞∞∞∞