Review of Superman II (1980) by David C — 06 Mar 2014

The first "Superman" was a pretty silly movie, but a lot of that was attributable to the goofy stooge played by Ned Beatty. "Superman II" dumps Beatty early on, but instead of getting more serious as a result, everything else becomes dumber to compensate.

The movie starts off with a long series of clips from the original, and recycled footage continues to pop up here and there, padding out the 2+ hour runtime. The trio of baddies headed by General "Kneel Before" Zod are actually pretty cool in a B-movie sort of way, with their struts and their Cirque du Soleil costumes.

Following their reintroduction in an imaginative scene on the moon, the first half of "Superman II" sees some truly unexpected plot twists involving Lois Lane and Superman's relationship.

These developments raise some interesting questions about the nature of Superman, and for a while it seems as if the franchise may take off in a bold and fresh new direction. At the midway point, a hologram of Superman's mother (Susannah York) underlines the absolute irreversibility of a decision by stepping out of her holographic projection crystal.

This step feels momentous, and it pays off when Clark Kent visits a diner and gets thrown through a glass door in a bloody and sad scene underscored by shots of the desolate, frozen landscape outside.

After that, though, things go rapidly downhill. All too soon, and without any real explanation or subsequent acknowledgment, the irrevocable decision is revoked and forgotten. The status quo is restored, the mythos and development of the characters are put aside, and an offhanded silliness reigns.

Sheriff J.W. Pepper (Clifton James), a cartoon character from two of the worst James Bond movies, had already shown up for no purpose, and although he disappears after a couple of scenes the tone he sets continues throughout the final act.

The four invincible, flying aliens toss cars around Metropolis while onlookers and a hammy Gene Hackman crack lame jokes. The action hops to the Fortress of Solitude, but there are no real stakes to it now that the film has backed away from the precipice.

The conclusion is cheaply-won and dissatisfying, and as the credits role another silly Superman movie starts to evaporate from the mind.