For a moment, it looks like our remaining child is going to be in grave danger, which is where the tears come in. That tense exchange then leads to Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) swooping in to save the day, in a manner you'd expect from the co-writer/director of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy.

Most know Superman’s story — or at least thinks they do. James Gunn’s “Superman” does so well to remind us why this story still matters, and why we still need it.

Warner Bros. isn’t framing this as just another summer tentpole. The studio is pitching Superman as the beginning of a new era. Gunn’s lighter, more hopeful vision marks a deliberate pivot away from the grim tone of the studio’s “Snyderverse” era.