While there are many actors that become identified with a character, perhaps the most iconic pair is Christopher Reeve and Superman. For years I had heard that Mr. Reeve was the definitive Superman, and now I know why. Watching him in the 1978 Superman, you can see this was the role he was born to play. From his incredible chin to his ability to make cheesy lines sound sincere, Christopher Reeve IS Superman.
Now that I’ve stated the obvious, this movie was a lot of fun. I sat down to watch it with several good friends and would highly recommend that method. Frankly, I went into this movie expecting some serious 70s cheese. I was not disappointed, but I also found that several parts of the movie rose above kitsch and were truly endearing.
The movie begins on Superman’s home planet Krypton with his father Jor-El fighting to stop the planet’s destruction. The entire sequence is bizarre. First there’s the very existence of Marlon Brando as Jor-El, which is one of those truly strange and magical casting choices that keeps on giving. Then there’s the questionable decision to spend the first few moments of the movie setting up the exile of General Zod, a plot point that does not feature into the movie at all. (I’ve been told it’s setup for the sequel). Then there’s the whole sending Superman to earth in a giant ice crystal spaceship while his planet dies around him sequence which is delightfully cheesy and strange.
From there the movie becomes less WTF and more charming. Superman’s upbringing as Clark Kent is adorable. Then he goes to Metropolis and meets Lois Lane, who is THE BEST. I loved Margot Kidder as Lois Lane pretty hard. I expected a fair amount of old-fashioned sexism, but this Lois Lane is smart, intense, and dedicated to her job. She can’t spell worth a damn, but she’s still determined to get the scoop and be the best journalist in Manhattan. I mean Metropolis.
Of course, her interactions with Superman are still frequently cringe worthy. The Peter Pan-esque scene where he takes her flying is truly ridiculous. But I also found a lot that was endearing about their relationship and Lois’s attempt to keep everything as professional as she can. Frankly, I found Kidder’s Lois Lane more fun and just as empowered or evolved as the Lois Amy Adams is playing in the current franchise.
As much as I was surprised by how impressed I was by Lois Lane, I was equally surprised at how lame Gene Hackman was as Lex Luthor. In modern superhero movies there seems to be a deep distrust of the heroes themselves, so the emphasis has shifted to creating more and more intense and interesting villains. This is not that. Gene Hackman is from the cartoonishly incompetent school of villain. He makes Jack Nicholson in Batman look scary.
There were moments of the movie I loved. Some, like Lois interviewing Superman, I loved for what they were. Some I loved because I watched this movie with friends and could laugh at the inconsistencies and ridiculousness. My favorite moment? When Superman delivers a boat full of villains to the police station, one friend said “Wait, that boat is named Serenidy. With a d.” Another friend quipped “Lois Lane named that boat.”
My recommendation? Get some friends and some pizza and enjoy this movie for the cheesy, iconic, super-fun, kitschy mess that it is.
“Cap named that goldfish Bucky. Tony named his sloth-mutant Cupcake the Destroyer.”
Nerd Academy 