Superman (in theaters)

I love the new Superman. I just wish he was in a movie that appreciated him more.

David Coronswet is everything I could have hoped for in a new Clark Kent, earnest and fallible and deeply committed to doing what he sees as the right thing. Rachel Brosnahan is just as good as Lois Lane, drawn to all of Clark’s goodness but conflicted by her own deep understanding of the uncomfortable practicalities of the world. I even liked Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, making him into the person Elon Musk probably imagines himself to be inside his own head. They’re a great trio, and all their interactions have a ton of potential.

Unfortunately, the movie lets itself get far too distracted to really take advantage of that. Director James Gunn stuffs a ton of thematic issues into the movie, and while they’re all well-meant there’s not enough time to let any of them breathe properly. Many end up being dropped or forced into the kind of simplicity that leaves them feeling ham-fisted. I’d have happily dropped half of them just to get a few more scenes of Clark in the newsroom, letting us feel like the rest of the Daily Planet staff were more than just afterthoughts.

The other superheroes run into the same problem. Edi Gathegi is the best of them as Mr. Terrific, but what they mostly end up doing is taking time away from letting us get to know Coronswet’s sweet, vulnerable Superman. “Superman” works fine as an ensemble movie, but his real team have always been the people who know Clark Kent. Let the Justice League (or Gang, as this movie calls them) come later.

Right now, this Superman needs the chance to really fly.

Grade: Three stars

Heads of State (Prime)

A grilled cheese sandwich may not be fine dining, but a well-made one can sometimes be the most delicious thing in the world.

That’s the case with “Heads of State,” an action movie with a completely absurd premise that ends up working beautifully. Part of this is the script and direction, which includes a surprising amount of genuine emotional moments and thoughtful characterization as well as laughs and great action sequences. Part of this is a genuine love of action movies, from a delightfully demented station head to the fact that nearly all the best fight scenes finally go to the woman (the other one goes to the station head). The other part is some great acting, with John Cena, Idris Elba, and Priyanka Chopra all doing a great job of balancing silliness, action, and more serious moments.

Cena plays the US president, which sounds like the most absurd statement in the world but actually feels weirdly believable as you watch. Elba plays the way less popular UK prime minister, and the two men hate each other in a way that makes their press agents despair. When they both get shot down on Air Force One, however, they’ll realize they have to work together if you want to save the world.

You’ll laugh. You’ll cheer. You’ll wish either of these men were actually leading their respective countries. There’s even a message about coming together that feels desperately relevant right now, and if it soaks into audience members’ heads even a little that can only be a good thing.

There’s also a limo driving through fire, because this is the kind of movie that checks all the boxes. How can you not love that?

Grade: Three and a half stars

Jenniffer Wardell is an award-winning movie critic and member of the Utah Film Critics Association. Drop her a line at [email protected].