Review of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) by Christopher H — 18 Jun 2013

What can be said about this film that hasn't already been said, it is very much the 'Batman and Robin' of the Superman franchise and proceeded to kill the franchise until 2006. Not only is it the worst of the franchise but 'Superman IV' also represents the absolute bottom of the barrel as far as superhero movies are concerned.

The plot plays out like a very bad Silver Age comic, with a cringeworthy heavy-handed 'Captain Planet'-esque anti-nuclear weapon message, beyond cheesy plot consisting of multiple meaningless subplots, mediocre effects-driven action sequences that induce laughter rather than suspense, and actors who seem more disinterested than the next.

Even Christopher Reeve seems to be tired of the role that once launched his career nine years prior. Gene Hackman's reprisal as Lex Luthor brings a couple smiles but he is not nearly in the movie enough to elevate it.

The film's actual villain, Nuclear Man, looks like a blond curly-haired Fabio Lanzoni with silver press-on nails. It is a complete failure as a film but if you can gather a few of your friends together, it can be very enjoyable just to do a MST3K beat-down on this absolute garbage of a flick.