Winner, Winner! TV Dinner: Superman (2025)

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It’s another of our TV Dinners with good friends! On this occasion, it’s an ‘away fixture’ as we’re down at Jo & Janet’s watching the 2025 version of Superman on 4K DVD. It forms part of my growing 4K DVD collection, where this latest addition was a gift from Nicki a few months back for helping her out setting up her shiny new laptop – cheers, Nicki!

We’ve enjoyed a growing number of ‘TV Dinners’ in the past few years (see the foot of this Post). For us, they’re the perfect combo of the three Fs – good friends, good food and a good film! This was our tenth, and with Janet as Chef tonight, we knew we were in for some yummy food too! 😋😋

I’m not sure how I missed this one last year when it hit the cinema circuit, but this evening, we definitely had the ‘best seats in the house’.

And with G & Ts immediately on arrival, the evening was off to a great start! 🥴 This was followed by a really delicious home-cooked Lamb Tagine with an unseasonal (and generous) slice of Christmas Pudding, helped along by lashings of custard! 😋. Is it me, or does Christmas Pudding taste even better when eaten outside of the Christmas period? 🤔

NOT just me then!!! 😉

Well, the food certainly didn’t disappoint – thanks Janet, but how about the DVD?

Synopsis
When Superman gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, allowing tech billionaire Lex Luthor to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Superman’s four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before it’s too late?

I’m just old enough to have seen quite a few Superman adventures on the big screen over the years. The first (for me): the iconic Christopher Reeve outings between 1978 and 1987 probably started my love for superheroes on the big screen. In later years, Henry Cavill donned the cape and left me with even more positive impressions of the Man of Steel.

So, this latest interpretation starring David Corenswetis (nope, me neither!) in the titular role and starring, largely, a cast of unknowns, it was directed by Superhero supremo, James Gunn, who has form for directing Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy outings before being poached to become head of DC Studios – Marvel’s rival! 😮

All the publicity at the time of release focused on a retelling of the Superman story. As the opening scenes unfolded, it was immediately clear that this was going to be an interpretation like no other! So, if you came here to experience the familiar backstory – Kal-El being evacuated to Earth/growing up as a foster child/his initial awkwardness fitting in at work, etc., etc. – forget it! 😮

This was all assumed knowledge, and we were soon into a familiar good vs evil battle between our hero and Superman’s nemesis: Lex Luther (played convincingly by Nicholas Hoult). Oh, good, I’d heard of him! 🙂. Whilst we’re on the subject of characters, I think it’s fair to say that an unexpected cast member eventually stole the whole film! I won’t reveal who it is here, but this film is worth a watch, just for those scenes! (and there’s a lot of them!). Yes, he wears a cape too!

For me, acting aside, the storyline was a bit all over the place, but by the third act, it was clear where it was all heading. The script was similarly afflicted, but good to hear the familiar tones of the familiar Superman Theme from earlier productions.

As expected, the SFX were outstanding (as they always are these days!) and the story ended with the obligatory – for those on the other side of the pond – sugary-sweet happy ending. Aww, God Bless America!

Would I watch it again? 🤔. Probably not, but for those who haven’t, and want to – it’s worth it.