Superman returns to Earth (thus the title) after a five year absence. While he was away, Lois has had a child and Lex Luthor has gotten out of prison. Luthorâs plan is once again based on real-estate and will kill millions. Superman must stop Luthor as he attempts to reintegrate with society.
So, Superman has been gone for five years on a trip to Krypton, yet the story ignores that. He could have been in Wisconsin writing his novel for all it matters to the film. Instead, the plot is about Lex Luthor wanting to sell real-estate (because that was in Superman I) and the Superman/Lois/some dude love triangle that no one was crying out for.
Superman Returns never had a chance. Director Bryan Singer, whoâd had success with the X-Men, didnât make a film that could stand on itâs own; he made an homage to the old Christopher Reeve movies. This is a big budget fan film. We get scene after scene that either references the earlier films or are directly stolen from them.
Ignoring Superman III and IV, and making a sequel to Superman II was a fine idea. Giving Brandon Routh no chance to make the title character his own was not so good. Routh is good as Routh, but he makes a second rate Reeve. Kate Bosworth is a bland Lois, the beginning of an unfortunate trend in underwritten and poorly performed female love-interests in superhero films (see Nolanâs Batman).
And did they retcon away the out-of-nowhere memory stealing kiss from Superman II? If not, shouldnât Lois be a bit freaked about having a son by a âmanâ that she has no recollection of having sex with? Shouldnât see be thinking about super-roofies?
While it feels too much like Donnerâs work in most way, the tone is off. Brandonâs Superman has the goofy Kent bit down, and Spaceyâs Lex (and his many sidekicks) are pure comedy, but itâs presented as serious. We get a dark and nasty presentation of pure camp, and the first step toward the dismay and Jesus fixation that would mark Snyderâs take on the character.