Superman IV: the Quest for Peace was considered a massive failure upon release. With such a poor response, it forced film studios to evaluate the need for more Superman movies. The result of which forced the franchise to remain dormant for years. Nineteen years later, another attempt was made with 2006’s Superman Returns. Both a financial and critical success upon release, the film never quite left the impact one may hope. That is especially frustrating, when the film contains an array of interesting pieces. A particularly fascinating one involves the setup of the story itself.
Superman Returns is not an origin story of the character, or an introduction. Instead, it drops audiences directly into this world. It follows Superman/Clark Kent (Brandon Routh) who has disappeared from Earth for five years visiting his destroyed planet. When he returns, he discovers an entirely different world than he left behind. This includes Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) who has moved on with her own life which includes her husband Richard (James Marsden) and son Jason (Tristan Lake Leabu). Meanwhile, the villainous Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) is on a mission of his own. That is, to learn all about Superman, and what it may take to take him down.
At its core such a premise sounds like a perfect Superman film. Not only that, but something entirely its own. This is not an origin story but an almost continuation of the Christopher Reeve adventures. Unfortunately with Superman Returns that ended up not being the case. Upon revisit, it’s easy to see why this Superman follow up never hit the high marks it wanted. Even with solid performances and a likable cast the flaws can be attributed to one factor.
Both the screenplay and directing lack a distinctive personality. That said, you can tell writers Michael Doughtry, Dan Harris and director Bryan Singer have respect for material. The love for the Man of Steel is felt, especially in a film without an origin story. After that initial setup and a few minor story surprises, a noticeable lack of creativity reveals itself. The result of which delivers something akin to a half-baked homage to the original films. It’s an especially frustrating element, with the added wrinkle of romantic drama.
In this interpretation, Lois Lane (Bosworth) has an anger towards Clark and Superman. He left her behind, resulting in her moving on with her life and starting a family. The problem being that both Routh and Bosworth are missing a romantic spark. Audiences never buy them as past lovers. Oddly, it can best be compared to the dynamic of later Christopher Reeve Superman films. It’s as if our central actors have no interest in being on the screen together. Henceforth, it sucks the tension and drama out of sequences that should be thrilling and engaging. Whereas in individual moments every central performance works.
Brandon Routh as Superman strikes a similar chord to Christopher Reeve’s portrayal. He applies a duality to both Clark and Superman. He’s both engaging and sympathetic, but also heroic. Viewers care about both versions, even when the screenplay makes Routh a near-parody of Reeves portrayal. Whereas on the flipside, Bosworth has the “street-smart” and “tough as nails” reporter down perfectly. The problem is that the film doesn’t give her enough of that. Similarly to Margot Kidder in 1978’s Superman, she is nothing more than a damsel in distress. The results of which make something much less memorable and effective.
Like any good Superman movie, you have to have a worthwhile villain. Kevin Spacey’s portrayal of Lex Luthor unfortunately operates in the middle. Throughout the portrayal, Spacey takes obvious inspiration from Gene Hackman’s iconic turn. He is quirky, strategic, and oftentimes funny. The problem is that he plays the role in a rather large way, enveloping the screen. In moments, that can prove as an efficient take on the character. The problem is that after a while, it becomes rather grating. While always an imposing presence, it becomes needlessly repetitive. The results make a villain that is all bark and absolutely no-bite where one may hope.
With lackluster characterization, the action set-pieces are devoid of tension. It feels like nothing more than a bad Saturday morning cartoon (oddly similar to Superman IV). The visual effects certainly look polished, but that really doesn’t matter in this case. When we don’t care about the characters, why should we care about them in danger? While the action sequences themselves are exciting, they carry no emotional weight. That in turn makes those sequences entertaining but not memorable. Instead, feeling like nothing more than underwhelming and uninteresting fan service.
Superman Returns can best be described as an admirable misfire. At its core, its intentions and heart are in the right place. Unique story choices try to differentiate Superman Returns from its predecessors. While well intentioned, it doesn’t do enough to make the finished result interesting. Instead, audiences are left with something that has great moments. Unfortunately, those moments never congeal into something engaging. Instead, we’re left with something that doesn’t leave a lasting impression. That is very disappointing to see, especially with committed (if not entirely great) performances.
Superman Returns is available to purchase or stream at your digital retailer of choice.
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