Superman Returns

I need to be honest with this review, I am a huge Superman fan. The first two Christopher Reeve movies are classics in my mind. I can still remember watching the George Reeves "Superman" TV show in syndication when I was little. I use to have a Superfriends bedspread and sheets (Mom, what happened to those?). So, as the theater lights dimmed and the previews played, my anxiety rose. Would "Superman Returns" live up to my expectations, or would it go the route of "Superman 3" and "4" (yes, there was a "4"), both of which I opted out of. Then, director Bryan Singer made my day. The theme song for "Superman Returns" is the song from the Christopher Reeves movies! Even the opening credits stay true to his source material! Marlon Brando speaks to his son! I was having flashbacks to sitting in a car at a drive-in theater in Bluffton, Indiana seeing "Superman" for the first time.

Okay, that was probably my longest intro to a review ever. Ironically, the opening thirty minutes to "Returns" plays the same way. Getting a slow start out of the gate, the pace eventually picks up to a breath-taking middle, unfortunately finishing with the slow rate at which it started. But don't let the deter you. The story is well-crafted, the look and feel of the scenes feel retro yet modern, and, most importantly, the two main characters keep you glued to the screen.

Brandon Routh is the new Superman/Clark Kent. Looking and acting like a young Christopher Reeve, Routh steps into the role very nicely. He's comfortable as either character. I wasn't sure how I was going to like Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor, but he truly carries this movie. Spacey is outstanding as the evil villain who was recently released from prison. If there's any weakness in casting, it's Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane. She comes across much stiffer than any other character, and has less energy and drive than Lois Lane should have.

Granted, in "Superman Returns" Lois is now a mother of a five-year old (Tristan Lake Leabu) and is engaged to Perry White's nephew (James Marsden). How did this happen? Superman left Earth five years ago, looking for his home planet of Krypton, seeking answers and survivors. In the meantime, Lois has written a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial titled "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman." Needless to say, our hero is upset by what has happened as he still loves Lois.

The biggest surprise of "Superman Returns" is the romantic aspect. If anything, this is a love story. In fact, this could almost be a date movie. Fear not, though, as the action sequences are excellent, there is still a light-hearted feel throughout, and a campiness that verges on cheesy reminding you of the original movies. Despite the slow start and finish, it's still great to have him back. I give it an A-.

"Superman Returns" is rated PG-13 with a running time of 154 minutes.