SCREEN SCENE: "Superman Returns"
By Daily Bruin Staff
July 2, 2006 9:00 p.m.
“Superman Returns” Directed by Bryan Singer
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
One would think that a film about the world’s most iconic
comic book character would live or die based on the super-strength
of its high-flying protagonist, but “Superman Returns”
gets off the ground thanks to the performances of a few mere
mortals. Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) is still as evil as ever when,
after a five-year absence from Earth, Superman, played by newcomer
Brandon Routh, returns to find Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) with a
child, a husband and a Pulitzer prize for her article “Why
the World Doesn’t Need Superman.” The film
doesn’t seem to need him either. Though Routh skillfully
captures the gawkiness of Clark Kent, he falls short of the charm
audiences expect of the Superman played in previous films by
Christopher Reeve. But Routh’s uninspiring depiction is
buttressed by stellar performances from the film’s supporting
cast. Painfully aware of the underlying romance between his wife
Lois and Superman, James Marsden’s character is given an
emotional depth that is distinctly absent from the film’s
title character. As a result, his rescue of Lois later in the movie
is triumphant, while Superman saving her comes off as expected
““ even obligatory. The designated “exciting”
scenes turn stale despite the quality special effects, and the
runaway plane scene never becomes the nail-biting, lives-at-stake
crisis it could have been. But all those gripes fly out the window
every time Kal Penn (“Harold and Kumar Go to White
Castle”), who plays one of Luther’s henchmen, lights up
the screen. He utters not a single word yet one flash of his face
is enough to inspire inexplicable laughter. Singer must have been
acutely aware of this power because after every devious or
devastating maneuver, Penn’s reaction finds its way onscreen.
As many times as it was done, the gag never got tired. So who is
the movie about again? It’s a bird. It’s a plane.
It’s … not really worth watching the sky for a watered-down
version of a classic superhero. Just keep your eyes out for Kumar.
““ Karen Leano
E-mail Leano at [email protected].
