‘Unknown’ actor makes new Superman movie worth the hype as Nicholas Hoult sports a new look

With yet another Hollywood reboot of the Superman franchise set to release, one actor is turning heads with his new look in the big budget flick.

Director James Gunn gets the rebooted DC Universe off to a flying start with a Superman that packs a punch

SUPERMAN (M)

Director: James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy)

Starring: David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, Skyler Gisondo.

****

Leaping lethargic expectations in a single bound

Been a while – no, make that a long while – since we’ve had a superhero movie that was in any way super.

While the new Superman is not a complete cure-all for the modern-day movie-going malaise commonly known as superhero fatigue, it does eradicate many of the lingering symptoms in fun, fine style.

Should a few other comic-book blockbusters soon on the way – yes, we are talking about you, The Fantastic Four: First Steps – follow the refreshing change of direction taken here, the superhero movie should live to fight and delight for years to come.

When compared to recent outings in the genre, it is not all that hard to identify what Superman gets right.

David Corenswet is taking a leap in Superman. Picture: Getty Images

David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan star in the new Superman. Picture: Getty Images

Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet are reviving the Superman franchise. Picture: Getty Images

The tone of the entire enterprise is appreciably lighter. The production design is pleasingly brighter. The pacing is irresistibly agile.

And best of all, Superman’s credentials as an OG superhero are brandished with the right blend of honour, humour and modesty.

This iteration of Superman marks a recapturing of the true essence of the character embodied by the late Christopher Reeve.

There are soft edges to this Man of Steel – a flawed, relatable humanity – that the relatively unknown actor chosen for the role, David Corenswet, both understands and conveys very effectively indeed.

Nicholas Hoult stars as the villainous Lex Luthor in Superman.

A new look! Hoult plays the villain in Superman. Picture: AP

If you have been bored rigid by the unnecessary scaffolding usually erected in these kinds of situations, the cleverly casual manner in which Superman dispenses with all the obligatory origin-story stuff will be the first of many things to win you over here.

In fact, courtesy of an unusual entry point which correctly assumes we already know all about the sole surviving son of Krypton and his geeky, glasses-wearing alter ego Clark Kent, the new Superman is able to make one heck of a flying start.

An opening set of floating titles immediately informs us that not only has it been three years since Superman started winning hearts on Earth. It has also been exactly three minutes since Superman lost his first-ever fight.

And with that, the movie is up, up and away.

Superman’s regular on-screen nemesis Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) is the architect of the many bruisings and batterings that will be coming the title character’s way, deploying a sinister brand of nanotechnology that genetically modified humans can use to neutralise the Man of Steel.

With the playing field levelled, Luthor (an Elon Musk-ish tycoon holding sway over government regimes good and bad) appears free to pursue a wacky world-domination end game.

If Superman is to stop him, it will only be with the assistance of a colourful band of familiar and unfamiliar faces.

Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and David Corenswet as Superman.

Clark Kent’s loyal Daily Planet colleagues Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) and Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) will be to the fore as Superman hits the comeback trail.

So too will be a ragtag mob billing themselves as the Justice Gang, compromised of the annoyingly overconfident Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), the grumpily over-it-all Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and the amusingly over-achieving Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi).

Oh, and special mention must also be made of the unlikely MVP of Team Superman: a unwaveringly loyal, yet distinctly disobedient dog named Krypto.

If this charmingly chaotic canine does not get his own movie one day, then there is something seriously wrong afoot.

While the new Superman is in no way perfect, there is enough good stuff filling this package – particularly the imaginatively mounted action sequences – to guarantee a great time for most viewers.

Superman opens in cinemas on July 10.

No Name (James Corden) and Smurfette (Rihanna) in Smurfs.

SMURFS (G)

**1/2

General release

It has been eight years since we last were treated to a Smurfs movie.

On the evidence presented in this reboot for the franchise, no one will be accusing the rights holders of having spent that lengthy downtime thinking up much fresh material.

In fact, aside from a surreal detour into the depths of the Australian outback – where some the title characters must deliver a payload of cakes to a hungry bunch of subterranean trolls – it is very much business as bluesual for the Smurfs.

Plotting is understandably kept to the barest minimum here.

The only matters worth tabling for story consideration are the abduction of dear old Papa Smurf (voiced by John Goodman) by brotherly meanies Gargamel and Razamel (JP Karliak), and the subsequent odyssey to determine his whereabouts spearheaded by the redoubtable No Name (James Corden).

Rihanna voices the role of Smurfette in the newest Smurfs. Picture: Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

A$AP Rocky and Rihanna. Picture: Getty Images

Otherwise, there are semi-catchy songs to be heard every five minutes or so, the best of which are supplied by Smurfette herself (aka Rihanna).

Occasionally, a half-decent joke is cracked, and a number of scenes where the Smurfs must traverse a variety of real-world settings also pay their way pleasingly.

Best enjoyed by early primary schoolers.

Originally published as ‘Unknown’ actor makes new Superman movie worth the hype as Nicholas Hoult sports a new look