Movie Review: The Naked Gun 2025

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Remember when I did the review of Happy Gilmore 2? You know, the so-called “long waited sequel” that I was curious to see what’s going on with hockey player turned golf, but turned out to be a very disappointed result that I was pretty much both underwhelmed and gently angry, which I called the worst and disappointed sequel I’ve ever seen in the equivalent of “Be careful what you’re wishing” and its also the waste of space to be on Netflix. Perhaps I really should’ve watching “KPop Demon hunters”, but I digress. It turns out Happy Gilmore 2 isn’t the only one to have a classic comedy movie to have a have a sequel after to many years, but this one is well known and one of my favorite from the 80s when I saw on DVD.

“The Naked Gun” is a 2025 action crime comedy film that was written/directed by Akiva Schaffer, produced by Seth MacFarlane (Yup, that Seth MacFarlane) and Erica Huggins, and co-written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.

Before we get to know where The Naked Gun began, lets take a brief moment of its origin. The idea came all the way back in the early 80s. Following a HUGE success of parody movie called “Airplane!” in 1980, the late Jim Abrahams and Zucker Brothers (David and Jerry) tried to make the next project, but outside of movie, they wanted to make parody of crime drama show called “Police Squad!”, aired on ABC in 1982, the show involves a bumbling deadpan police officer, detective Lieutenant Frank Drebin who’s on the case of dealing numerous crimes in a clumsy and comedic fashion, which is especially thanks to the late Leslie Nielsen who’s risen a comedic role after been in serious roles before the 80s. Which despite they’re planning to air six episodes, it was abruptly stopped after four aired episodes, until they aired two more before it was canned too soon. Talk about a big slap in the face to abruptly canned the show, despite it was actually great and funny. But Abrahams and Zuckers won’t let go their passion project, cause six years later, they gave us “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad” and it became a comedy gold in the late 80s with great reception and it made successful money at the box-office by earning $152.4M. But of course, since we love The Naked Gun, its no stranger it became a franchise to producing two sequels, they’re good, but not as fresh as the one that started all, but they still made money on both box-offices. And yes, I saw the first The Naked Gun, and I loved it so much its one of my favorite in the 80s, the second one is good, but not as great, but the third one, I never seen it, yet.

Fast forward to today, the idea of this came all the way back in the late 2000s, when the writer named Alan Spencer wanted to make the fourth one called “The Naked Gun: What 4? Rhythm of Evil”, but instead of releasing it on theater, its gonna be a Direct-to-TV film, but that planned never happened, as Leslie has gone aged that it was meant to passed the torch, but there’s also Abrahams and Zucker Brothers were disgusted that they wanted to canceled the project. But in 2013, Paramount Pictures wanted to try again with The Naked Gun, but its meant to be a remake with Ed Helms as the new Frank Drebin, along with Helms are take the role as the writer with Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant joined in. Though when they asked David Zucker joined in as the producer, but he refused to working on the project, seeing that their modern comedy style won’t be as good as when it used to, leaving the remake concept being canned. Then in 2021, the creator of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane, stepped in that he wanted to make his vision of The Naked Gun as a producer, along with Akiva Schaffer joining in as a director, and its said that its gonna be a Legacy Sequel to focusing on the new generations after we saw The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, with surprisingly Liam Neeson joined in as Frank Jr. But once again, they asked David Zucker to be involved as the executive producer, but alas, he refused to be in this project.

So, with all that said, will The Naked Gun will be a welcome return in for new generation to save California, is this Legacy Sequel would be a bad taste to the past?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For a movie being a legacy sequel, we expecting its gonna be one of those questionable or unoriginal story in a comedy movie. But when it comes to this movie, its actually fun, even if its nearly ridiculous.

The film begins in a bank robbery right away, where not only the gang are stealing money, which wouldn’t be until we introduce lieutenant, police officer, detective Frank Drebin Jr from Police Squad who beat the robbers down after disguising himself as a young school girl. But it turned out the bank robbery was a setup of distraction, when they secretly stole a “PLOT” device, (aka “Primordial Law of Toughness” device), a dangerous device that it blows a shockwave to brainwashing people in to barbarian nature to leaving him to becoming a revision “Founding Father” of the world. But at the same time, Frank Drebin, along with his partner Captain Ed Hocken Jr. also heard about a car crash to the death of Simon Davenport, at first, they thought it was a suicide, but it wouldn’t be until he met Simon’s sister, Beth, came to bringing new evidence that he didn’t died by suicide. So its up to Frank to solving crime cases about the responsible of Simon’s death and question about Richard Cane’s secret.

Its a standard police story of solving crime case, while the “who murdered element” is obviously cliché (because hey, its a police movie), but the plot from the villain’s setup is ridiculous, but in a pretty unique way for one villain who wants brainwashing people to going violently nuts to taking over the whole world, its almost its something out of The Purge, but its a long story. Again, even if the plot is ridiculous, but its actually fun, not just for the plot, but also for the writing, as it meant to follow the legacy from The Naked Gun/Police Squad, with modern twist, which out of modern comedy movies I watched, I actually have fun with this movie, ranging some dialogue in silly threats, some fun timing and maybe some nice reference, whether its just a pop culture reference or some homage of the past The Naked Gun, which il give a credit for bringing something new in this movie and a tribute. While I enjoy some humors, but not all of them are perfect, one is the romance montage scene that we have a snowman comes to life, which I guess its mean to be a parody reference of “Jack Frost” (you know, the one with Michael Keaton), which I think they miss the mark that they could’ve just do a similar montage with “Im into something good” romance scene in the first The Naked Gun, just saying. Although I should also point out the movie’s laugh is surprisingly short for like one in a half hour long, but at least this movie is reasonable, unlike MCU’s Fantastic 4’s length that I’ve been experienced.

While its nowhere perfect, but its ridiculously fun from the story concept, the writing and even the humors, its enjoyable.

The Presentation

The movie’s budget is surprisingly bigger than three The Naked Gun movies, it costed $42M in its budget, which is like three times bigger than the first one, but in fairness, it looks pretty good for beautiful view, and even a silly set.

For starter, the filming location look pretty nice for a movie taking place in Los Angeles, California, especially for seeing some beautiful shots of LA, along with the sets in the studios in interior are pretty cool and some sets are nice touch for its humor from its visual gag, like when stadium is called “Ponzi-scheme.com Arena” is meant to be a reference to “Crypto.com Arena”, I guess selling cryptocurrencies are no strangers for making money for digital shady scheme, even if the difference is that Ponzi Scheme is is a fraud operation that instead of pay return to original investor, you just shuffling around to new investors left and right, but I digress. While its a nice locations to film for taking place in LA, but in reality, it was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, kind of odd when the first The Naked Gun was actually filmed in LA, maybe its for saving the budget based various sets, effects or others.

The sets and the way they filmed are actually pretty good and fun what we see, ranging from the indoor of Police Squad department, the jazz club scene with secret room. For course, their visual gags are actually enjoyable much like the writing, it also has references, for the most part. But of course, if you’re a fan of The Naked Gun movies (even though I still love the first one), it also have some Easter Eggs that you’re familiar with. However, if I have a nitpick on this movie, it will be the Cane car, which is basically a fictional electronic car that looks like a rejected model of today’s Hyundai, but it has only voice commands for to the car’s move or such, and to add more bizarre is the a triangle steering wheel (Eat you heart out, Elon Musk...)

Of course, it also has action scenes, which I will say, the action scenes pretty good from its physical fist fight and of course, the physical comedy’s execution is done pretty good that makes Frank Drebin jr to be both funny and badass at the same time. Though the downside I have is that, while we like to see fist fight and guns (Gun Fu style), but the usage of gun shooting are minimal, which it sucks that I would like to see a hilarious gun shot of death. But to be fair, it has a hilarious and creative beat up with guns in the climax, despite of disappointment, but il give credit for trying.

While some moments are flawed, but their presentation are enjoyable for either beautiful shots and a good laugh of visual gags.

The Characters

For a movie being the legacy sequel, you think the characters are going to be likable and even funny? Well, for the casts, it has a surprise veterans which they did a pretty good and fun job.

Lets start with our main hero, Frank Drebin Jr. (played by Qui-Gon Jinn himself, Liam Neeson), the son of Frank Sr., he’s the next generation of lieutenant, officer, detective on Police Squad to fighting against crimes for many days, either for being badass or being bumbling clumsy fella that he caused nothing but trouble. The easy way to say is “Like Father Like Son”, cause both Sr. and Jr. are both follow in a same duty, but in either coolest to hilariously idiotic way, which is pretty nice to pay homage from Leslie Nielsen days, although il give a credit to give a heart moment when he likes to follow the footsteps from his father and personal struggle when he lost his late wife. Whereas Leslie was such a legendary for his comedic deadpan and bumbling performance, here, its like imagine we have Taken merges with The Naked Gun, but to be fairly honest, I think Liam did a pretty good work of his performance for his action and his comedic role, its as if he made a surprising returning comedic role since we saw The Lego Movie in his good and bad role or even being over-the-top in Darkman. Which, when im saw him from the trailer, I was hesitant that he’s gonna be in mediocre comedic role, but he surprisingly took it in the final result, and like I said, he did a good job of his rule, even if that, as im writing this, he’s currently in 70s, which its not hard to see his action experience is gonna be soft from his old age, but still, he did a fun work.

Next up, we have Beth Davenport (played by Pamela Anderson, yup, the same actress/model who’s been on Playboy Magazine’s covers), she sorta sidekick to Frank for seeking revenge and asking for evidence about her brother’s death, and of course, she’s Frank’s new love interest. I find her also surprisingly good and funny, though sure, she’s meant to be another damsel in distress, but she’s half damsel and half femme-fatal based on being made to be rescue to even one time, she seeks revenge, which it may sounds like its gonna be a be like a good cop and bad cop thing. Well, almost… Of course, like Liam, im very surprised to see Pamela Anderson pulled her comedic performance, ranging from her lines, being accidental clumsy or even, probably my favorite part, jump on a stage of jazz music, but she scattering in a jazz music. Even though I’ve heard her name, but never seen her in either Baywatch show or her questionable film “Barb Wire”, despite those, she did a fun work of her role too.

After that, we have Ed Hocken Jr. (played by… Paul Walter Hauser again since MCU’s Fantastic 4?!), similar to Frank Jr., he’s the son of Ed Sr., who also wants to follow the footsteps, and again, Like Father Like Son, he’s Frank’s partner where he’s a no-nonsense partner to give a warning about some evidence or even some red flag moments. I think he’s passable, he’s more like giving us some plot device for evidence and such without causing Police Squad to fall down. While I find him to be good that Paul did a nice work of his role, but jeez, this is the second row I review the movie with Paul Walter Hauser.

And finally, we have Richard Cane (played by Danny Huston), the owner of Edentech whom, at first, we assuming he’s a gentle employer of his electronic brand to change the world, along with donating his electric car to Police Squad, but alas, much like our old friend Vincent Ludwig, he also has a dark secret of his plan, unlike the typical assassination, here, Cane is planning to taking over the world to brainwashing people into chaos with his P.L.O.T. Device that he and his team stole it, while doing a bank robbery as a distraction. Pretty crazy concept about his villainous goal, I find him to be fairly decent, he’s just a two face villain, there’s one face that he’s nice and open-minded to hanging out with like Frank Jr., but the other face is being narcissist and egotistic that he wants to make a perfect world by becoming his own vision of founding father. Kind of cliché for being an evil egomaniac, but il give credit for their crazy concept about him. Even though its a similar development as Ludwig, but at least the execution is crazy, but pretty nice, and Danny did a good work of his role.

As for the rest of this movie, they’re just there for either story development or even for jokes.

There’s Chief Davis (played by CCH Pounder) is the chief officer of Police Squad, Sig Gustafson (played by Kevin Durand) is Cane’s henchman from robbery to planning to framing Frank for criminal activity like murder (kind of cliché, but again, kind of over-the-top and interesting), Detective Barnes (played by Liza Koshy, aka Margot in… Ugh, Ruby Gillman) who’s a detective in Police Squad who’s just… There for finding her own evidence or calm interrogation, and the one named “Not-Nordberg Jr.” (played by Moses Jones), who likes to follow the footsteps as police officer, but not so much to connect to his so-called father Nordberg (I mean, what do you expect when OJ Simpson was possibly responsible or killing his family member and a friend that he pleaded not guilty? I mean, screw this former football player prick…).

Although, similar to Happy Gilmore 2, the movie also has plenty of celebrity cameos like current WWE Undisputed Champ Cody Rhodes as a bartender (I didn’t know he’s there), one of the bank robber is played by fast rapper Busta Rhymes, some MMA fighters like Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman, former WWE champ Dave Bautista (aka Drax in MCU) and of course, everyone’s favorite parody musician, “Weird Al” Yankovic.

While some characters have a same development from before, but il give credit for upgrade and something new. Along with fun performances from either new and veteran actors for their surprising and fun to do their comedic roles from physical gags and dialogues.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, The Naked Gun 2025 is, at first, a pretty doubtful film when we saw the trailer, but surprisingly, its actually a pretty good legacy sequel what we didn’t expected. Yeah, its pretty surprising what they gave us.

It has good story, a great writing, the presentation looks nice, the characters are enjoyable, even if it kind of focus on Frank Jr., the actors are surprisingly great and have fun, and jokes are pretty good and worth of laugh.

Sure, it has a couple of clichés some can be predictable, the movie length is short as one in a half hour, but its understandable, and some ideas, while its good, but can be mixed, and some parts that they could’ve add more homage from the trilogy, but that’s just me for the latter.

If you’re a fan of The Naked Gun like me, I HIGHLY recommend to watch this movie, its a pretty good and fun film to watch, especially that it pays homage from The Naked Gun trilogy, along with giving a surprise appreciation for veteran actors give us their humorous roles. Though if you may not a fan of The Naked Gun, maybe il let you watch once, and as always, il let you guys drop your conclusion if you actually like this movie, if not, I’d say go watch “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad”, as an appetizer before you watch this year’s legacy sequel, again, il let you drop your conclusion.

For my rating, im gonna give this one an 8/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out

Movie Review: Happy Gilmore 2

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Well folks, im back in business to do another Movie Review that I watched another movie in streaming platform from okay movie based true story like Flamin’ Hot on Disney+ to an UTTERLY GARBAGE like Unfrosted on Netflix. But that brings me to the latter that im doing another review of Netflix’s exclusive film that im highly anticipated that happens to be a sequel of one of my favorite movie from the 90s in changing sports.

“Happy Gilmore 2” is a 2025 sports comedy film that was directed by Kyle Newacheck, written/produced by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler (yup, not only he acts, but also work as a writer and producer with his studio “Happy Madison Productions”), and co-produced by Jack Giarraputo and Robert Simonds.

Before we get to the sequel, let me give you guys a brief history for where did Happy Gilmore begin. After been into Saturday Night Lives stand-up comedy and even released their first film “Billy Madison” that they made money both for them and their distributor Universal Pictures, the best roommates Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler were thinking for their next movie project, this time, its about what happened when a hockey player turned into a golfer with smashing over 400 yards drive, along with based Sandler’s childhood friend who used to be a hockey player when he and his old friend played golf together, along with couple others that they’ve been inspired, whether its from past experience or from whichever movies, thus they gave us “Happy Gilmore” in 1996 with Dennis Dugan directed it. Much like Billy, it had a mixed reception when it first came out, but it made a lot of money at the box-office with $41.4M, but as time went on, it became a cult favorite for golf community and some who grew up with this movie. For me, its one of my favorite movie in the 90s and my favorite movie starring Adam Sandler with nice story, its funny, good characters and, like any comedy movies, it has memorable lines that we love to referencing it, and of course, who doesn’t the iconic fight scene between Happy Gilmore and the great late host of The Price is Right, Bob Barker, its so great and funny to we can’t forget.

Anyway, more than decades later, several fans (probably myself included) would love to see another movie with Happy Gilmore, even Sandler expressed himself that he also loved to make a sequel for his title character’s follow-up to senior golf tour. However, instead of bringing Universal Pictures back for distribution, its now distributed by Netflix, which for those if you don’t know, in the late 90s, 2000s and early 2010s Adam Sandler used to been in couple of films on the big screen, while there are some that are not bad like Punch-Drunk Love and Click, but lot of them are either mediocre or a complete eye and ear sores like “I pronounce you, Chuck and Larry”, “Jack and Jill” and “That’s my Boy” or even two “Grown Ups” films…! After released Pixels, Sandler has moved on from theatrical films into working on Netflix films, minus couple other films like three “Hotel Transylvania” movies (which they’re an animated films on the big screen), while some are still bad like “The Ridiculous 6”, but he did eventually gave us some good ones like Leo, Hustle and the best one of all, Uncut Gems.

So, with all that said, will Happy Gilmore make a epic return to hit ball in 400 yards one more times, or is this film make me having a short fuse?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

After years of follow up, you would think that its gonna be a new goal of saving earning money for the name of family? Well, that’s the good news, but the bad news is it threw out of window from a new plot has gotten stupider, but not in a good way…

The movie begins with a follow up after Happy Gilmore won the championship for his beloved grandma to save her house. Despite granny is no longer with him, but he kept relevant to play golf with five more champion and becoming a family with with four boys and one daughter. But in 2014, everything went downhill when after teeing his golf ball to his wife Virginia, he’s fallen apart from heavy drinker with booze and losing his house since grandparents had before, along with facing legal trouble of having a fist fight with an innocent man with Ferrari. He ends up living in a small house with his daughter Vienna, while his boys doing their business, along with his boys went for their own jobs separately. However, while Happy is on his job in supermarket, his daughter, thanks to building up her ballet career, is asked to be enrolling to Paris for four-year ballet school, but that costs $75K that he’s gotta find the way to figuring out to raise money for his daughter, but thanks to encouragement from his grandpa figure John Daly, along with meet a notorious CEO of Energy Drink named Frank Manatee who asked him to joining his own “Maxi Tour” that Happy refused, he’s comes out of retirement to play golf again in the name of his daughter.

This plays much like the first one, but in opposite direction, whereas the first one is helping Grandma to saving her house from repossession from IRS from lack of granny’s budget, but here, its to raise money for his daughter to building up her career, which is rather nice that we were hoping to see Gilmore comes back for another chance for another swing from 400 yards. But alas, all the good concept came to at end, instead it focuses on some cheap jokes that it feels like I should’ve seen coming from all of cheap jokes from previous Happy Madison films, sure I did have a chuckle at some moments, but everything else went downhill from there, since when we get to the second act, the main plot was thrown out in favor of trying to save golf industry with an annoyingly loud obnoxious and cheating style of golf from Frank Manatee’s view, like is this kind of questionable concept that they came up with that its all about saving golf sports aside of building up Vienna’s career to France?? All that for the sake of cheap joke that feels like it was written by dumb social influencers like Paul brothers or KSI. There’s also a subplot where Happy, despite coming back to play golf, his addiction is ruining his chance that he’s forced by both golf and going to the alcoholic treatment program, run by Hal L, the same man who worked as a caretaker in retirement home, which sounds fine, but not for making yet another cheap jokes that ruined it. Again, I did have chuckle at some jokes, but most jokes are just bad and cheap with pee jokes, obnoxious party jokes and couple others if I missed out. But if I do have some other positive note, at least they did gave us some fairly decent reference from the past, whether be a reunion or even a next generation like Slim Peterson who happens to be the son of the great late Chubs Peterson and Drago Larson, the son of Mr. Larson, but il save them later.

While the concept and nostalgia reference are nice, but everything else is ruined from dumb story, mixed writing and cheap jokes that 10% are chuckle worthy, while 90% are just forced, annoying and stupid…!

The Presentation

While the movie’s budget didn’t show me (despite that I tried my best in research), but at least the movie’s presentation is not bad for say the least.

For starter, they only filmed in New Jersey, like nearly all over the place in NJ from Morristown for the hotel scene, Bedminster for the country club, the burger shop in Garfield (Yes, someone in Jersey though its fun to called small town, either based on someone’s last name or a cat who hates Monday), and golf games in Hackettstown for the golf center and West Orange for Montclair Golf Club, and the couple other places in NJ. Though it should also point out that this is quite possibly the inspiration of a rivalry between the ongoing gentlemen sports that we all know “PGA Tour” and the other is a modern new one called LIV Golf, from what I’ve heard, LIV Golf is more about exciting and colorful tour, and also funded by the investment from Saudi Arabia in the most oblivious fashion ever called “Sportswashing”, since we all know Saudi Arabia is the most corrupting and broken down mess country ever. Which I guess that explained why this one came from, but not in a good way.

The way they filmed is fairly decent at best, along with some improvement like when Happy tees off his golf ball with a new camera follow the ball in the air instead of what we see the golf ball in the air while filmed in the ground like we’ve seen in PGA Tour or others, il give credit what they wanna make something new. But the downside is that some of the visual jokes and others are either felt like it borrowed from other Happy Madison films or just cheaply copy from the first film, again, its nice to brought back, but more like badly aged.

But one part that really made me cringe, its not just a cheap jokes or such, but rather the presentation of Maxi Golf, I mean good lord, while it looks fine, but the way they came up off the rule book, some cheap obstacles and the gimmicky golf players are just obnoxious and again, cringe that it feels like the social influencers came up with this mess that I’d much rather change the channel to watching PGA instead of Golf themed Prime sports juice (before asked, I tried to take one of its flavor and its nothing by a cheap sugar and caffeine juice, I hated it, but of course, Logan Paul and KSI didn’t care, they’re making stupid money out of those junks).

While il give a small positive note for new filming as a sequel of Happy Gilmore, but its nowhere safe with some questionable designs, some sets and some cheaply post-production effect that I also forgot to mentioned the latter.

The Characters

While we have a welcome return characters, you think if the old ones and the new ones could gave us a new development. Hehehehe… No, because again, the writing ruined it that they changed into a mess what they used to.

Lets start off with our titular hero, Happy Gilmore (played by Adam Sandler himself), a former hockey player turned veteran golfer who came out of retirement to raise more money for his daughter’s goal, however he started as an unmotivated broken down man that due to his wife Virginia’s death from a fatal accident from a golf ball, he’s pretty much struggling himself with heavy drink and regaining his fashion of golf since his good’ol days when he won six titles. I find him to be fairly good, even if its a same story of veteran player trying to get back up after the decline, kind of like Lightning McQueen from Cars 3. Despite he’s fairly well written, but he feels rather underwhelming, he’s just the same, but downgrade when he used to, we never be able to see him in anger whenever he loses in Golf, but more about another one of those veterans who came out of retirement couple various reasons, along with struggling from the tragic moment. Il give a credit for Adam for doing a fun work of his performance, but as a comedic writer and producer in his production company, not so very much what he’s trying.

Then we have Shooter McGavin (played by Christopher McDonald, aka Jor-El in Superman: The Animated series), who used to be famous golfer and overly protective on PGA tour when Happy Gilmore was there, but now, he was in asylum to live in new life, due to his mental breakdown from his loss from Gilmore. At first, you expected to see Shooter comes out for revenge to hunting down Happy Gilmore for his losing game (and his mind) for playing another golf or in ass-kicking contest, but alas, he’s not even the main villain, but more like a rival reunion instead of bullying Gilmore for revenge, even if he’s not gonna play golf anymore from his older age, which I can understand from Chris’s age, but even though its nice to see him again, but like Sandler, its just the way he was written was nothing but disappointment.

And we have Hal L (played by Ben Stiller) who used to be a harsh caretaker of old timers in nursing home in Waterbury, and now the leader of the alcohol rehab. Though at first, I though he’ll be okay to be in a minor role in the movie much like in the first film, but instead, he’s the secondary role that he took a harsh treatment in the rehab, which I find him to be over-the-top, but not in a good way he was written that he’s trying to be “funny” and be “smarter” for helping the people in their charges to be in rehab. Though im not saying I don’t like Stiller, I think he’s a great actor when I saw him in Zoolander, Madagascar, There’s Something about Mary and even Tropic Thunder, but like always, its the way he was written that I find him to be rather mean spirited, in again, not in a good kind.

As for the new characters in the movie, well, despite il give credit for their performance, but they’re just either obnoxious, stupidly dumb or a waste of space nor potential.

Lets start with the main antagonist, Frank Manatee (played by Benny Safdie), the CEO of Maxi Energy Drink with his sponsor of the gold tour “Maxi Tour” that he wants to change golf in different way after getting rejected by Happy Gilmore. I find him to be the obnoxious for the way he’s written for changing golf in the fashion of Gen-Z or Social Influencers’ cringe, especially for the latter that he’s like the movie version of Logan Paul and KSI, based on their annoying attention seeking fame and the similar energy drinks for attention-seeking sponsors. While I considered Hal for being mean-spirited, Frank is being obnoxious, not even Benny saves himself for his stupid role that he’s portrayed.

Next up, we have Oscar Mejias (played by Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, aka Bad Bunny), a former busbuy who got unfairly fired from his business for being an airhead, along with wishing he wants to be running an Italian restaurant. When I first heard of him, I though he’s just a dumb airheaded former busboy who’s played by unknown actor, but in reality, im quite surprised that he’s played by Bad Bunny himself, even if its just he wants to be credited with his real name outside of his stage name. But when it comes to Bad Bunny’s portray, I find him to be a miscast, he went from a Puerto Rican rapper and occasional wrestler in WWE into a clueless former busser who’s never heard about golf, nor anything. Even though I never seen Bullet Train or some others he’s involved, I fins his acting is fine at best, but also, its easy to blame how he’s written.

After that, we have Vienna (played by one of Adam’s daughters, Sunny Sadler), Happy’s only daughter outside of her brothers that she’s training to becoming a ballet dancer in order to raise money to be in Paris in dance school. I find her to be fairly decent too, she’s not as annoying or stupid, she’s just a passable and lovable daughter for building up her career and have a good respect to her father in order to regain his motivation. Plus, while not perfect, but il give credit to her performance that she did a nice work that she likes to follow her footsteps from her father Adam. Heck even her sister Sadie (who played by Charlotte in Hal’s alcohol rehab) joined in, and I find she also did a nice work of her role. So good for them. Though the same can be said to Adam’s wife Jackie (who played Monica, who’s Vienna's teacher for dancing).

Next, we have Slim Peterson (played by Lavall Crawford), the son of Happy’s mentor and pro-golfer, Chubbs Peterson, who’s the owner of miniature golf place and having some experience of golf (like father like son), but much like his father, he lost his hand, but thankfully, its not an alligator, but rather a vending machine incident. I find him to be okay, perhaps he kind of miscast to playing as the son of the late Chubbs Peterson, though im guessing he also wanted to in golf tour, but never happened due to putting wooden prosthetic hand from vending machine incident. While the casting choice is left a lot of questions, but il give credit for the writing, for the most parts.

And finally, we have Billy Jenkins (played by Haley Joel Osment), a young pro-golfer who has a similar swing from Happy Gilmore, but unlike Happy, he’s picked up by Frank as a big deal for Maxi Golf, making him as Frank’s henchman with his Maxi Golf team. He’s pretty much the young, but lackluster writing who he is, along with questionable moment for how he has a mighty swing compared to Gilmore. While his performance is, okay at best he’s been, even if his performance in this movie would be a bad timing, which in April of this year, he was arrested in ski resort for being intoxicated with substance abuse and being a Karen for his foul mouthing as Jewish people, despite he apologized his action. That’s a BIG OOF that im pretty sure he’s going into decline in his career in my opinion.

As for the rest, there really isn’t much else to say, despite there are some are so being desperately to be “funny”.

There’s Gilmore’s sons Gordie (played by surprisingly a Heel AEW wrestler, Maxwell Jacob Friedman), Wayne (played by Ethan Cutkosky) Bobby (played by Philip Fine Schneider) and young bro Terry (played by Conor Sherry), they’re the bros that they have their careers separately, but they’re annoyingly brutal that they dared to have a fight, much to dismay to Vienna, Virginia (played by Julie Bowen) who’s now dead, but in Happy’s mind for motivation to remind him in good’ol days, John Daly is depicted as fictional self in hermit who lives in Happy’s garage for motivation, and addicted to hand sanitizer (The F(bleep), dude?!), the same can be said with real life golfers in fiction like Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy (the latter of which who eventually won the 2025 Masters Tournament in Grand Slam, congrats Rory, but you deserve better than being involved with this film), Drago Larson (played by Boban Marjanovic) who’s the son of Mr. Larson, but sadly, I just wish I want to see him more, but he’s pretty much an afterthought instead of being a gentle giant supporter to Happy Gilmore like Mr. Larson, and finally, Donald Floyd jr (played by shockingly, Eminem, aka Slim Shady) who’s the son of Donald who likes to harassing Happy for losing the game for name-calling “Jackass!”, but alas, much like Drago Larson, he too didn’t last long, but being one of those celeb cameo for the sake of cheap marketing, like come on, I wish I would like to see him more both in PGA Tour and Maxi Tour where he insults Happy, but instead, it was a short moment, all that for nothing but a cheap stupid joke and poor reminder… but in fairness, at least Eminem took a fun performance, for the most part.

While some actors and even other celebs did a nice performances, especially with some surprise, but its just a lot of them are either badly written or for cheap marketing with but load of cameos that they never have their own development or such. Even though I have some characters that I gave an appreciation.

And now for my final opinion of this film

Overall, Happy Gilmore 2 is the most disappointing and its the second Worst Netflix movie I’ve ever seen since Unfrosted last year…!

While I may like the concept, the filming, some acting performances and some good characters, but everything else is a colossal mess with very bad writing that feels like a DOWNGRADE over the first film, the story is ridiculously bad, the set of Maxi Tour is stupid, the old characters could’ve gone better, the new characters are bad or even a complete waste and the jokes are nothing but cheap immature and cringe that I really should’ve know that this is Happy Madison film since I watched “That’s My Boy”…!

This much like Space Jam: A New Legacy, this is the equivalent of “Be careful what you’re wishing for”, which from before, I was curiously anticipated to see it, especially I saw some people liked this one, but after watching it, it completely fell apart that im just disappointed and pretty much mad for watching this on Netflix. If you’re a fan of Happy Gilmore, perhaps this one is for you, I can respect that if you like it. Otherwise, its the film that has potential, but completely ruined what we got in this movie. Easily the most disappointing sequel and another waste of space to be on Netflix…!

Im gonna give this piece of dog mess a 3/10, along with earning the Dumpster Fire of Failure…!

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out

Movie Review: The Fantastic Four: First Steps

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Yup, another day with another superhero movies, this time we’re going back to Marvel Cinematic Universe for the third and last one in a single year, and perhaps save the best for last, whereas the latest Captain America is rather… Mediocre, which im glad I never seen it. Then there’s Thunderbolts, which I’ve covered this one that its pretty nice one, even if the movie’s marketing felt like an afterthought that it ended up with an underwhelming box-office. That is until we have this film that they would hopefully this will be a big deal after two previous movie in the name of team of Four figures, and Family.

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is a 2025 superhero film that was directed by Matt Shakman, produced by Kevin Feige, and written by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer and Kat Wood.

In order to know where a movie of Fantastic Four begins, we gotta go back a decade ago, but we’re not to talking about the one the unreleased one from the 90s. Back in 2005, we had the very first film starring Fantastic Four directed by Tom Story, I remember saw it that, while they tried, but it kind of botched it for trying to be a bit hard for be funny or such, even if this movie came out three years after Spider-Man, while Story’s first F4 isn’t that great, but it made a lot of money, which he was happy for the result ever since they start developing a decade ago. Two years later, Story returned to make a sequel called Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and… Its the dumbest and the most disappointing film that I remember saw it once back in my old school and its not hard to see why the new installment and spin-off with Silver Surfer were dumped after the box-office got flopped. When MCU became a big deal (but long before Disney acquired 21st Century Fox), Josh Trank stepped in at 20th Century Fox to do the reboot of Fantastic Four as a loose adaptation of “Ultimate Fantastic Four” in 2025 and… This is easily the WORST take on F4 ever made (which im glad I’ve never seen it) with negative reception and it was a box-office bomb that it cost damaged to 20th Century Fox with an estimate between $80M - $120M and Trank was pissed off over the failure.

After Disney was eventually own 21st Century Fox, this left many fans that they would like to see MCU’s take on either X-Men (though we have Deadpool and Wolverine) and even Fantastic Four, the latter of which is exactly Marvel Studios’ president and the producer, Kevin Feige is looking for to do his vision of Fantastic Four. Originally, Jon Watts, who did with three Spider-Man movies in MCU, was attached to be the director of the new F4 movie, but decided to leave the development, saying he’s running out of gas after working with Spider-Man: No Way Home and MCU contents, along with focusing his next film “Wolfs”. Man, even some filmmakers were burnt out on MCU, but I digress. While after we had a F4 cameos like John Krasinski’s Mr. Fantastic (though he said he would love to coming back, but no avail due to lack of discussion) and the return of Chris Evans’s Human Torch in Deadpool and Wolverine (while being skinned to death), Feige eventually had a discussion to a new director Matt Shakman, though Matt was hesitant that he was planned to working on new Star Trek, but he was thankfully left the development to working on new Fantastic Four, but it wasn’t going to be in our main universe in the development, its going to be taking place in a different universe in retrofuturism style, while, like Gunn’s Superman, made a brief origin of the team.

So, with all that said, will this movie be a worth of fantastic, or is this film that it should’ve been eaten by giant evil being in galaxy?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For movie about four members working together after the space mission, you think the story is gonna be about working together for good reason and saving the world? Predictably, yes, but, its actually well written.

The movie takes instead of Earth-616 (or Earth-199999. Yeah, our main world’s identity is confusing in Multiverse saga), it takes place in the retrofuture world of Earth-828 in the 1964, it was a celebration of 4 years’ birthday of of four astronauts’ space mission before they were struck cosmic rays to receiving powers, ranging from fighting bad guys, solving problems from disasters, building up diplomacy called “Future Foundation” for removable military weapons and bring peace, and finally thanks to marriage between Reed Richards and Sue Storm, they’ll potentially becoming parents thanks to her pregnancy. But at the same time, they’re caught hot water when the world meet Silver Surfer (specifically Shalla-Bal) when she came to Earth in a warning message that the world is about to end from the giant space being called Galactus. So its up to Fantastic Four set up to leave Earth for negotiation keep their home world safe.

Its a fairly decent story in this movie that its all about save the Earth from the evil threat of Galactus to prevent being devoured along with trying to push away from Silver Surfer, even if its easy to predict for the story and the climax, but its nicely executed for elements, like difficulty plans and evene working together. That’s exactly what its telling for the latter, its the message to be together in the name of family, cause after all, Reed and Sue are potentially becoming mom and dad since they’ve been married from like a decade ago. There’s always struggle for how to get along from dangerously becoming selfish when it comes to either protecting the baby, the level of genius or even last minute changes. Its always a tough decision for being part of family and being the group of four heroes, especially when it comes to preventing the end of the world, which I will admit, even though its challenging for how to be working as a family figure of superheroes, but also has a good heart. Though if I have a nitpick is the purpose from Galactus for the one and only request to spare the planet, but il save it for the characters, but less SPOILERS. Despite it has a heart and some drama for struggling plans or saving the Earth, but in MCU fashion, it has a humor moments, which I will say, the humors did gave me a chuckle from either the dialogue or even some physically, though like always, some can gave us humors work, but others, not so much.

While its predictable and some humors are hit or miss, but the writing is done pretty good for its message, the setting and even catch a break from the main universe, the latter is nice to take a fresh air to see Earth-828.

The Presentation

The movie’s budget costed $200M, which I guess it explained why its an anticipating big budget film unlike Brave New World and Thunderbolts. But as for the presentation, Man… It looks pretty damn good what they gave us, at least for some.

It safe to say from starter, the filming were done on studio for the sets and green screen in Pinewood Studio in Buckinghamshire, England under “Blue Moon”. But in fairness, they look pretty nice what they’ve build to giving retrofuture come to life, it gives an imaginative, colorful and old-school look what it feels like to be in retrofuture vision in New York City, it looks so damn good and beautiful for old imagination old future look from the 1960s. I mean after all, we’ve seen plenty of retrofuturism posters either from 30s, 40s or even 50s. Sure, many people trying to capitalizing the retrofuture concept in real life, some are pretty cool, but others, not really. Of course, second half of flying into space is also a fun journey, even if it was a setup for negotiation to Silver Surfer and Galactus, while Galactus’s ship is like a miniature version of Unicron from Transformers for eating planets to Galactus himself. Though the only except for their filming is when they filmed Durdle Door in Dorset, England for Shalla-Bal’s origin.

As for the designs, like I said, they wanted to bringing retrofuture comes to life, it wasn’t just the world or the city, but also the fashion, they look faithful for the set of 1960s from wardrobe, advertisement, the vehicles and such, which they look pretty nice. As for Fantastic 4, their costumes are not from the comics, but more like a reference from the 1994 version by the late producer Roger Corman, based on the bright blue and white costumes they’re wearing, which I find them look pretty good and fitting for 1960s (Even if the Corman version has never get a chance to release this movie, but that’s a long story). But of course, lot of people had been waiting for is The Thing, which he surprisingly looks faithful from the comic unlike either wearing a rocky costume from 2005 or poor-man CG naked Golem abomination in 2015, its a pretty nice touch what they’re going for, but the downside is that he could’ve been either only wearing pants or trunks than a bodysuit, im just saying. But I also find funny when he has a rocky beard based on teleportation plan due to limit of powers. And finally, they also brought their robot assistant name H.E.R.B.I.E., which I find it pretty cute, especially it was done by animatronic and some visual effect, again, nice touch there.

As for the action and the effects, I find them pretty good and fascinating to watch in MCU fashion, however, the actions are minimal for the focus of the chemistry between our four heroes, we only get to see the montage in the first act when they fought numerous baddies like Mole Man, Giganto and Super-Ape, the space chase between our four heroes and Silver Surfer and the of course, the climax. Despite the minimal of actions, but the effects are pretty nice, aside of practical effect like the aforementioned H.E.R.B.I.E., the visual effects from powers, mocap and such are pretty fascinating what they’ve done, especially with the help of numerous effect companies like Industrial Light and Magic and Sony Pictures Imageworks.

While some presentation like nearly lackluster action or some are my nitpick, but they did the best work for the effects, the settings and the actions, il give credit for that.

The Characters

For a movie about the four heroes, you think the characters will give a promising development with some good hearts? Well, I think so, for the most part.

Lets start off with Fantastic 4 themselves, they’re the astronauts and superheroes in New York to fighting against the evil threats for peace, along with exploration ever since after they got exposed from cosmic ray. Of course, they have their different personalities, whether be Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (played by Mando himself, Pedro Pascal) being a leader of the four from his genius science and stretching body, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (played by Vanessa Kirby) being the older sister and the Reed’s love interest with invisible and force field, Johnny Storm/Human Torch (played by Joseph Quinn) is Sue’s young and cocky attention-seeker in his flight with fire, and finally, Ben Grimm/The Thing (played Ebon Moss-Bachrach) Reed’s best and former veteran astronaut in his big walking rocks with strength and durability. When it comes to them in this movie, while they remain the same from the comic, but they’re not working together as a team, but they working together in the name of Family, this is thanks to a subplot and chemistry between Sue and Reed that they’re now becoming mother and father when she’s pregnant for baby Franklin, which is pretty nice, but I find the idea of going on space journey for negotiation while being pregnant is a bad idea, which is the other nitpick part I have in this moment, I mean it would’ve been fine if she’s giving birth when they’re on Earth instead of going out in space, but that’s just me. But in fairness, the written between Reed and Sue are pretty nice, based on their difficulty for becoming a parents when they’re mission or even finding a new plans based on incoming Galactus, with Sue being caring and warning when it comes to cooperation, while Reed, despite being the smartest leader, but have a hard time to came up that he could dangerously becoming selfish if its not going on the way, even being father is challenging too. As for Johnny, he’s no stranger the comedic role for being cocky, curious and kind of self-aware, he just likes to showing off. I guess its not hard to see why Quinn is a fan of Chris Evans’s role of Human Torch in 2005, which I can see why he nearly imitates Chris’s role, but more development and less womanizing. As for Ben Grimm, he’s more of a gentle giant for being loyal and moral for family like an uncle figure of the family, he’s more of passable, but il give a credit to make him likable, but the real likable in my view is either Human Torch or even Invisible Woman. While The Thing is fine, but I find them pretty good and possibly relatable when it comes to working together for family in their business, but of course they did a good work of their performances, I can tell they’re having fun for their roles.

Next up is Shalla-Bal, aka female Silver Surfer (played by Julia Garner), a humanoid silver alien from Zenn-La who’s Galactus’s assistant for searching planets to feed for him, despite she has a difficulty choice to be either stick with him or being negotiated for harsh deal for peace. I find her to be… Not bad at best, she’s more of a secondary villain to neutral, she’s another passable one. But I find her to be in the wrong place, yes she looks beautiful in her metallic appearance, but its just that they could’ve stick to Norrin Radd, aka the OG Silver Surfer, the first Galactus’s Herald, which is something that if they wanna follow up the Heralds of Galactus, bring Norrin as the main neutral, not his future girlfriend/next gen of Silver Surfer. Im not saying I don’t like Shalla, nor even Julia, I think she did a nice work of her role, but questionable choice having Shalla in the final cut instead of Norrin, which I guess its no wonder why when Shalla is picked up into this movie, it left many fans a lot of question of left Norrin like an afterthought. Or maybe we’re gonna wait IF we have Norrin himself in MCU’s future. Or maybe in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

And finally, we have Galactus (played by Ralph Ineson), a gigantic cosmic being who consumes planets for his growth power in destruction for over billions of years since he was born. I find him, quite terrifying for being giant planet eating space being, but I find his writing to be… Underwhelming, he’s just a giant walking menace in demand if he either takes one thing to keep the place peace, or he’ll takes his gigantic ship to consuming the planet for his power hungry. I think its safe to say he’s pretty much an afterthought, while Shalla is like the focus in her choice, while he treats her like a tool to be on his side or else. While I find Ralph’s performance as Galactus is fairly decent, but its just the way he was written is just lazy, we just want to learn more about him than nothing.

As for the rest, there’s not much else to say about them, either for plot development or just there. There’s Lynne Nichols (played by Sarah Niles, aka Bernadette Pearce from F1) is the newly founder of Future Foundation after Sue created it for drop the weapons for peace, Harvey Elder, aka Mole Man (played by Paul Walter Hauser, aka Embarrassment from Inside Out 2) is one of villains back then who rules the undergrounds for Moloids, and Ted Gilbert (played by Mark Gatiss) is the host of his own talk show.

While some characters are okay, but il give a credit for the execution for some of their developments and even their performances.

And now for my Final Opinion of this film.

Overall, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is exactly what we’ve been looking a film that its worth with the name after years of giving us some bad Fantastic 4 movies.

It has a very nice writing, the setting is so good, some characters are enjoyable, the actions are fun, some jokes are good and it looks pretty good what they’ve accomplished.

However, while its pretty good, but its nowhere perfect with couple of problems like some design are nitpicky to me, its kind of predictable, some of the characters could’ve been better and, I almost forgot to mention that the film’s run-time could’ve been better to be a bit more than to 2 hours instead of less than 2 hours, which it probably explained why there are some developments that, while some work well, but others like the villains, could’ve gone potential.

Even if the movie has problems that im pointed, but its a big relief to giving us a good Fantastic Four movie. Although, even when I looked back the 2005 movie, even I understood its bad for couple reasons, but its my guilty pleasure that its not bad. But when First Steps came in, its a pretty good one. Its definitely a must-watch film for MCU and F4 fans. I enjoyed this one, but not perfect from flaws compared to my new favorite film of this year, Superman in DCU.

For my rating, im gonna give this one an 8/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

Movie Review: Superman 2025

 Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

Last time, I did my looking back on Man of Steel, which, as I’ve said before, I used to think its somewhat good, but looked back now, it was nothing but an over-budget overhype film that its just nothing but desperate attempt to bring heroes into darker tone, but turning into a joke to any DC loyalist (like me) are disgusted to looking back, that is until when we have those Snyder Cult are taking their defense way too far to personally attacking opposing fans with harassment campaign with BS and death threats. I know it sounds like an agitation, but can you blame those hardcore cult how toxic they are? Which at this point, when DCEU went into final years (particular with Shazam’s sequel, blue Beetle and Aquaman’s sequel), I’ve lost all hope of DC movies that I much rather watching either animated series (like My Adventures with Superman or even Harley Quinn) or some of other old contents. But of course, when it was bad, its no stranger reboot is a thing to fix the problems what we have (for the most part), including this long waited return to bringing back to the old route in today’s review.

“Superman” is a 2025 Superhero (and sorta reboot) that was written/produced/directed by James Gunn and co-produced by Peter Safran.

The idea of this movie came during the first half of DCEU, when making the sequel, Batman V Superman, it was originally intended to be the dark version of “World’s Finest” that both Superman and Batman have a bitter feud before they gotta dealing with Brainiac, but as we all know, this sequel is the most baffling, broken down mess how it turned out, it went back to the drawing board after Superman was killed off (like too early) when they’re bringing him back from the dead in Justice League. But ohh boy, the drama isn’t stop there, after Snyder left due to personal reasons from his family, Joss Whedon took the role and the result was a MAJOR disaster, despite it ended up making money at the box-office. After the “Stupid Idiot” version of Justice League came out (until Snyder came back to release his own cut version of JL), they were promised to making the sequel of Man of Steel, like possibly going in lighter tone, along with Henry Cavill (who played Superman) would like to be inspired from Pixar’s Up, but didn’t worked out. But for the next couple years, the whole plan to bringing back Superman felt completely forgotten, especially Cavill was originally appear in cameo on “Shazam!”, but couldn’t due to his schedule conflict for playing the villain role in “Mission Impossible Fallout”, but Henry hasn’t gave up for his role, but it felt like an afterthought as he was parting ways from DC Studio because trying to make a new one with him is pretty much hopeless. However, there’s a new plan involving Black Superman (lets say, came from modern Earth-2) with J.J. Abrams as the director and Michael B. Jordan will portraying as Black Superman (aka Val-Zod), how’s the project been? Well, I haven’t checked any recent reports, aside of James Gunn would give them a helping hand. Speaking of Gunn, after released “THE Suicide Squad” and the sequel into series “Peacemaker”, the final years of DCEU was a complete crap show with so many disappointing films and box-office flops, and at the same time, its also when the new boss of Warner Bros (and the biggest punchable face) named David Zaslav after WarnerMedia and Discovery merged together (Yeah, its not gonna go very well since the merging of AOL and TimeWarner), he went into a new direction of this company, and also crap show moments like canceling almost EVERY projects from movies to even series (such as a Batgirl movie, a Scoob’s Christmas movie, DC Super Hero Girls (Yes, it was canned after cliffhanger, of freakin’ course…!) and Coyote vs ACME, but the latter is revived thanks to giving project away to Ketchup Entertainment for second chance). After canceling “Superman: Legacy”, DC Studios going under a new management with James Gunn and Peter Safran as the duo CEO and duo Chairman, they decided to reboot DC cinematic universe as “DC Universe”, the plan is to bringing DC back to the old route to be not just having some projects in dark tone, but also in lighter tone, and even some mature one, the latter of which start off with “Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters” (kind of like MCU’s saga) with the series called “Creature Commando”, taking place around after “THE Suicide Squad”, but involving monsters (I saw it and its actually pretty good), while Peacemaker’s second season will be back, but jumped into DCU.

But when it comes to Superman, it was originally going to be sorta like a midquel of Man of Steel, but it was changed into a new Superman movie with David Corenswet as our new Boy Scout. According to Gunn, his version of Superman is an inspiration from the comic series “All-Star Superman” based on couple of elements, and its been said that this movie is gonna be about Superman’s struggle to connect the humanity while skipping over his origin, which I understand his decision, like we’ve heard about his origin like thousands of times, eh?

So, with all that said, will our new Superman can give us a positive hope to connect the humanity to save the Earth, or is this film isn’t a movie, but its an “it”?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

For a sorta follow-up and reboot of DC cinematic universe, you think the story will be something new and improved writing? Well, yes for the latter, but the first part, kind of.

The movie begins without Superman’s origin, but only mentions via texts (which I understand the skip, but it feels like we’ve seen his origin like more than dozens) from Kal-El (aka Clark Kent, aka Superman) being launched out to crash landing to Earth. Speaking of which, we see Superman crash landed to the ground of Northern Arctic in brutal injury, but thanks to his high-pitch whistle, he’s summoned by his trusty pet Krypto the Superdog to the rescue to his hidden Fortress of Solitude with his robot servants called “Superman Robots” to healing him with Yellow Sun. Despite he misses his fight with “Hammer of Boravia”, Superman is also living in double as Clark Kent to working on Daily Planet as a mild-mannered report (despite of kind of clumsy), and as a hero to fight the baddies and the menace. But after beat the Kaiju with an unexpected help from the Justice Gang with Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern, Hawkgirl and Mr. Terrific, the rich nemesis Lex Luthor broadcasts a video of Kryptonian message (given by Kal’s parents, Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van) about not only the reason why Superman is landed on Earth, but also been “said” to conquering Earth in the name of Kryptonian, causing the public turning against the last son of Krypton, its up to Superman to find the way to stop Lex in order to clear his name.

Again, I understood that we’ve seen the origin like multiple times that we start straight with the bang, but story wise, its pretty nice to going with the fun of character driven to Superman, but plot is rather predictable and its another one of those films about heroes trying to clearing their name, you know, when the main protagonist has been accused for criminal activity or even posing a threat to fight back to regain their appearance, like its easy to predict the result throughout the movie, but like I said, the movie is mainly focusing on Clark Kent/Superman for his character driven that he tries to connect to the humanity for, in a classic motivation, “fight for Truth, Justice, in the American way”, which is exactly what he likes to do, though, it isn’t as easy based on public reception for the motivation or someone make a conspiracy against our Kryptonian hero. But of course, the movie also has a subplot where we have Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, despite they’re try to know the answer the reason why Superman is here to protecting people, along with also trying to finding the proof against Lex’s accusation against our hero, especially it will be challenging to teaming up with Justice Gang, which its a pretty nice backup to help Superman before he’s taken away to the Pocket Dimension. While its flawed, il give a credit for the writing for not just a character driven and some drama moments from Clark’s difficulty choice in front of Kent Family and even the intense interview between Lois and Clark/Superman, sure the interview scene is fun, but its also kind of personal that Superman is trying to clear the truth that, again, he was born to protecting the people of Earth in peace, despite she’s taking the interview seriously. Thankfully, unlike DCEU, while it does trying to be serious, it also wants to have fun, which I will say, its actually pretty good and even chuckle worthy with some good jokes, ranging from Guy Gardner being… Guy Gardner, a fun one-line and even the running gag between Superman and his pet Krypto, which I find it pretty cute and fun as well. However, if I have a nitpick for the writing, is there’s a plot hole about Lex Luthor created a portal to the Pocket Dimension, I know Lex is genius, billionaire self-entitled with his sense of God Complex, but seriously, how the hell did he discovered or even knowing about the Pocket Dimension??

While the story is predictably flawed and my nitpicky plot hole, but they did a fun work to go lighter, fun and some faithful to DC, especially for story driven to our main Kryptonian.

The Presentation

Unlike Man of Steel that its an over budgeted film that costed between $225 to 258M. Here, it costs almost low as $225M, its almost the same number, but MoS’s budget is estimated, I mean sure its slightly cheap to look at, but to be fair, it looks bright, colorful and surprisingly pretty good.

For starters, the filming location is pretty nice and beautiful, along with the background design to either look faithful from the comic like Daily Planet (good riddance on that compared to DCEU) or even trying to be new like the Fortress of Solitude that its basically a headquarter with spiky crystals that it can also hide underground to prevent being witnessed (especially for Superman Robots that she should’ve keep their eyes on trespassers like Lex Luthor and his group). Sure, they also filmed in the set from the interiors like Fortress, Daily Planet, LuthorCorp (Yes, its renamed from “LexCorp” to “LuthorCorp”, im guessing its meant to be a family business like any business’s names after the founders’ last names), while the Pocket Dimension, isn’t just the set, but green screen with digital background, which probably explained they were filmed in Trilith Studios at Atlanta, Georgia. But of course, it wasn’t just filming in the studio, but also filmed outdoor, they first filmed in Adventdalen valley in Svalbard, Norway, is no secret it was first filmed on Winter season to fitting in for Superman’s secret base, but that was the first filming when they started. While the rest are filmed in Northern Ohio from Cincinnati to Cleveland, which filming in Ohio to portraying Metropolis (along with Bovaria) is a pretty nice place.

As for the effect and design, they’re pretty good for what they pulled, though for the most parts. The first of which is the costume, which im sure its been talked about all the time, even before the film’s release, mainly for Superman’s costume. I know some of you going full on toxic calling it “Ugh Superman? More like Diaperman!!” or “Shame on you for worst costume, Gunn!!” Yeah, those reactions (mainly from DCEU/Snyder fans) are overblown and a high level of stupidity. Why? Its meant to bringing Superman back from the way he used to wearing, like you know, blue bodysuit with Symbol of Hope, red boots, matching shorts and cape. But of course, there are some loyalists called it a relief to the old school outfit (for some parts). If you ask me about this, well, its actually not bad. Sure, its nowhere simple and classic as Reeve’s Superman, but its more like a the more modern with classic outfit with the textures and layers around this suit, and to add another classic element, having his symbol to his cape, which is a nice inclusion that we never forget. Speaking of symbol, when I first saw that, I was all like “The costume looks good, but ugh, what’s this symbol, it looks like a cheap 7 instead of S!”, but in reality, based on research, it turns out the movie’s symbol is a reference of one of Superman’s comics “Superman: Kingdom Come”, I haven’t noticed it, but il give credit to try to find something new logo that came form the comic, rather than from scratch. But if I have a nitpick on Superman’s costume, it would be the neckline that its higher rather than lower that we all know. I know the neckline part is a reference to New 52, but come on, that part is botchy if you wanna be classy. Meanwhile, there’s the Justice Gang costumes, while they’re look cool, but it feels like a copy-paste with different colors, I mean it would’ve been fine for Mr. Terrific, but not so much for both Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl. There’s also Lex’s The Engineer and Ultraman which I find them to be decent, while The Engineer looks cool, despite one using nanotechnology as a weapon (Yup, another nanotech cliché in a superhero movie since MCU), while Ultraman looks unique instead of being a diabolical version of Superman, but is it just me or why is Ultraman looks like a long lost cousin of Black Noir from “The Boys”?

As for the effects, its also pretty nice. While they’re using CGs in post productions like Superman’s abilities, Mr. Terrific’s drones and Green Lantern’s energy power, along with some mocap of Superman Robots, but they also want to tone down the CG with practical effects, which is pretty good what they pulled off like wires from flying, and even some robots were done in animatronic.

As for the action scenes, they’re pretty good to watch to we like to see Superman flying to the air in an ass-kicking contest from facing against Hammer of Bovaria, fighting against a Kaiju, the chase and fight in the Pocket Dimension and even the climax, they’re pretty good to see some action impact, but of course, it does have some sense of humor, which again, did gave me a chuckle to watch from either delivery or visual gag.

While it has some problems it suffered (like some costumes), but it looks pretty good to have fun, bright and colorful that it feels so refreshing.

The Characters

After having a bland written characters in DCEU, you would hope they gave us a proper character development in the follow-up/reboot cinematic universe? Well, they’re surprisingly pretty good, for some.

Lets start off our title protagonist, Superman, aka Clark Kent, and aka Kal-El (played by David Corenswet), once mild-mannered reporter in Daily Planet to brave and helpful hero to Metropolis, for being the last son of Krypton. In this movie, while we all know he’s the main focus (Well, 75%) and him young in over 20s, he’s more like the young hero in difficult to coop from not as perfectly powerful, kind of naïve and struggled himself from the public face. He’s like he’s in RPG level 1, sure he does have powers like flight, strength, heat vision and super breath, but like I said, he’s nowhere 100% indestructible and not-so-smart, especially when either Lois, Jimmy or some other employees of Daily Planet that he’s kind of a loser (sorta like Peter Parker in Spider-Man, except nerdy). While he’s not perfectly stronger, but at least he’s enjoyable in this movie from curious and overwhelmed to caring and protective. When it comes to David’s performance, I think he did a good work of his performance, ranging for double life with different voice like Christopher Reeve’s Superman to young and struggling like Jack Quaid’s Superman. Here’s an interest fact, back in the audition for who’s gonna be the new Superman, my favorite actor Jack Quaid was in there to playing as Superman in self-tapes, but as we all know, David got the role as our Man of Steel. Though I think Jack would be great if he plays as The Flash. Then again, he did voiced Superman is one of my favorite show “My Adventures with Superman”.

Next up, we have Lois Lane (played by Rachel Brosnahan), a reporter of Daily Planet and Clark’s supposed love interest, but left her many questions to him. Though at first, we may investing her and Clark to having their loving chemistry, like we’ve seen plenty of times, but in this movie, despite they’re in relationship, but she’s much more taking seriously for the reports and looking for the truth, which is especially the point when we have the intense interview between her and Clark. And much the aforementioned my favorite show “My Adventures with Superman”, she isn’t depicted as damsel in distress, she’s more concern about Superman at risk from public backlash against him and she’s also like to come help our main hero to clear his name, especially teaming up with Justice Gang, il give an appreciation of changing Lois’s development from constant kidnapped victim back then to now becoming heroes’ unlikely helping hand, especially for Superman. But of course, Rachel did a good work of her role, especially with her chemistry with David.

After that, we have Lex Luthor (played by Nicholas Hoult, aka Renfield), he’s the main antagonist in the movie where he runs his rich business “LuthorCorp”, but when he sees Superman he wants to putting him out of picture of either release his own heroes like The Engineer, Ultraman or even Hammer of Bovaria in his hatred towards our Kryptonian. While most version of Lex is either calm with a small ill temper based on his resentment on Superman, but here, he’s quite of over-the-top boss of his business that he’s overly obsess, determine and manipulative that he REALLY wants to put Man of Steel out of misery for either imprisoning him or kill him, but if its not going on his way, he’s clearly turning into a ticking time bomb in a fit of crashing out to either in desperation of hunting down Superman or even badly treating his employees. Like Jesus, obsessed much? But I will give a credit for Hoult for doing a pretty good work of his role that we love to hate.

Next, we have Jimmy Olsen (played by Skyler Gisondo), a young boyish photographer of Daily Planet, and being Lois’s companion (though as a friend, since again, we see Lois and Clark are in love), I find him to be fairly decent, though he’s meant to be Clark’s best colleague, but he’s more like Lois’s best colleague to taking pictures for Daily Planet. While he likes to work with Lois, but he’s sorta plays like a detective that, like Lois, he’s looking for the proof, but more towards LuthorCorp, along with secretly having a crush on Lex’s employee, Eve Teschmacher. But like Lois, its nice to see him in action, for a bit, to helping Superman to not just clear his name, but also exposing Lex Luthor’s setup. Again, its nice to see humans come to helping Superman in support. And Skyler did a nice work of his performance.

Lastly, we have Justice Gang, which they’re like the prototype version of Justice League, but as we all know they’re the sidekicks in the movie, but not ready to bringing Superman to the team, cause again, Justice League wouldn’t be for about… Next couple years, cause DCU has just getting started.

There’s Guy Gardner (played by DC’s overused actor, Nathan Fillion), he’s the leader of the gang with his use of Green Lantern’s Power Ring, along with being the jerkiest one in Green Lantern Corp for being abrasive and kind of a prick. There’s Hawkgirl, aka Kendra Saunders (played by Isabela Merced, aka Dora The Explorer, and aka Anya Corazon in… Urgh, Madame Web…!), she’s the young member of the gang as half-human half-Thanagar (or Metahuman if you like to call), who joined the team after retaining her past trauma that she’s more of an angry demeanor with a small sense of humor. And finally, we have Mr. Terrific, aka Michael Holt (played by Edi Gathegi), the brain of the gang for inventing high-tech gadgets robots and his flying transport to fight for justice and he’s surprisingly likable in the movie from acceptable for helping normal people like Lois to even a fun, but brief, chemistry between Superman and Terrific.

As for the rest, they’re actually fascinating for some have a good personalities, or some just there for plots.

There’s Metamorpho, aka Rex Mason (played by Anthony Carrigan) who’s an archaeologist to becoming a metahuman superhero with powers of the elements, though he’s also been in prison at first, Eve Teschmacher (played by Sara Sampaio) who’s Luthor’s assistant and his girlfriend who’s constantly like to taking selfie that she’s kind of annoying of her selfie faster I scream “MISS TESCHMACHER!!!”, Perry White (played by Wendell Pierce) who’s the chief-in-editor of Daily Planet in no-nonsense mood, along with his resentment on Lex Luthor, The Engineer, aka Angela Spica (played by Maria Gabriela de Faria) is Lex’s partner with her ability from her nanotechnology, Ultraman (played by [REDACTED]) who’s Lex’s second partner, even though he looks more like a silent bodyguard, Jonathan and Martha Kent (played by Pruitt Taylor Vince and Neva Howell) are Superman’s adoptable parents ever since he was launched out from dying Krypton, along with either Martha isn’t as accustomed to technology, while Jon, like always, giving advice to be responsible to be a hero. And there’s remaining Daily Planet employees like Steve Lombard (played by Beck Bennett) is a big shot reporter (though he’s more of a douche), and Cat Grant (played by Mikaela Hoover) is a pretty columnist.

Oh and lets not forget Krypto the Superdog, he’s also enjoyable to watch from being playful and kind of being a troublemaker, sure we can see Krypto is either played by actual dog, or others done in CG. And here’s an interesting fact, Krypto’s appearance is based on James Gunn’s good-boy dog named Ozu. Nice touch.

I should also point out there’s even more characters brought in from either brought from DCEU (at the time) and came from the beginning of DCU, either for plot or for cameos, there’s Rick Flag Sr. (played by Frank Grillo) the father of his late Jr while working as the director of A.R.G.U.S. since Creature Commandos, and Peacemaker, aka Christopher Smith (reprised by veteran wrestler (before retirement, as im writing this), AND HIS NAME IS JOHN CENA!), a vigilante wise-cracking S.O.B. who likes to killing people in his name of peace, though he only shown on the news, but won’t give you a SPOILER details.

While some are flawed, but its pretty nice to have a new improvement to give them a well-written characters and a fun acting to deliver.

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, the 2025 Superman is definitely worth of hype, and I enjoyed this movie for being refreshment after the embarrassment of DCEU.

The writing is pretty nice, the presentation looks bright and colorful, the action scenes are fun to watch, it has some nicely written characters and the jokes are chuckle worthy, along with some surprising Easter Eggs from references if we’re familiar.

Sure, while il give an appreciation from the writing, but its nowhere perfect, while the story is good, but predictable, some plot holes left me questioning and some costumes are good, but can be nitpicky.

This is a “Must-Watch” film for any DC loyalists who wants to see a new and improved take on Superman if anyone like to bringing DC back to the old route, but for non-fans of DC, I’d say give this one a watch, im sure you may like this movie. For me, after all the anticipation, this is the film perhaps I would like to rewatch the film, once it’ll coming out either digitally or physically, since it’ll probably becoming my new favorite. Like I said, this is easily a highly recommended film that you should check it out. It may or may not be the movie of the year, its fun to watch.

For my rating, since I enjoyed this one, im gonna give this one a 9/10, along with earning the Trophy of Success. This is definitely a film that we wanna give a huge thanks to James Gunn to make DCU the beginning of the new era.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.