No superman is an island.

Three weeks after halting the invasion of Jarhanpur from the technologically superior army of Boravia, Superman (David Corenswet) is handed his first defeat as a superhero in Metropolis by being punched into the Arctic. It’s just the first day of a bad week, enduring baseless accusations from billionaire industrialist Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), dissuading morally gray heroes Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) from outright killing their adversaries, and feeling defensive about legitimate questions that Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) is asking — especially while he’s dating her. As the truth about secret evil plans in motion escalate, the Last Son of Krypton will be tested… with Earth-splitting consequences hanging in the balance.

Written and directed by James Gunn, this is the full first film entry since being handed the reins by Warner Bros. With parts of HBO’s “Peacemaker” becoming new DCU canon along with the excellent animated “Creature Commandos,” this film has a lot of weight to pull. Not dissimilar from the challenges of bringing Superman Returns and Man of Steel into theaters, Gunn must reintroduce Clark Kent, set up an entire continuity as if audiences are just tuning in to their regularly scheduled universe (already in progress), and tell a complete story unto itself. As a key producer responsible for the subversive anti-Superman-esque Brightburn, the task is to reinvent arguably everyone’s most hopeful DC character in a relevant and endearing way. In other words, there’s no room for error: the WB needs a DCU smash hit right out of the gate. No pressure, right?

With uncontested villains pointing accusing fingers at vulnerable scapegoats in the real world, it’s long past time for a feel-good bit of comeuppance. Allowing Clark to be entirely true to himself, a wholly good person in a cynical world ready to embrace fear-induced fascism, is a literal and cinematic miracle. His example affects everyone around him, and whether it’s Maxwell Lord’s Justice Gang or a random cellmate in a off-the-books prison, Superman’s word carries weight. Not since Christopher Reeve has any screen version of the Big Blue Boy Scout felt so convincing conveying the genuine goodness of this character, for better and/or for worse. Yet here we are, with the same actor who played despicable corporate stooge Scott in Twisters, only now breaking our hearts with utter selflessness.

A hero is only as good as their nemesis is evil, and Hoult’s Luthor is not to be trifled with. It’s difficult to make yourself appear worse than someone who’d terrorize a dog, but that’s only the well cap for the depths this bad guy is willing to sink to. From the Daily Planet regulars to Luthor’s henchman and the Justice Gang to the robots of the Fortress of Solitude, every actor gets a moment to shine. Standouts include Alan Tudyk’s Gary, Sara Sampaio’s Eve Teschmacher, Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho, Pruitt Taylor Vince as Pa Kent, and Gathegi’s scene-stealing Mr. Terrific. DC fans who know of The Engineer played by María Gabriela de Faría understand what her appearance might be setting up, but we’ll see if that pays off.

The runtime is surprising lean considering the amount of story stuffed into it, amazingly balanced in the edit. While some of the silly moments are over-the-top in their comic book-ishness, almost all of them are earned. When children unable to defend themselves raise a makeshift flag, hoping beyond hope that their hero will come save them, what we learn instead is that it’s easier to stand up to a bully when everyone stands up together.

Superman 2025 is rated PG-13 for violence, action, language, and childish adult gestures toward armored transports.

Four skull recommendation out of four