Superman Gets One Right

I've gone on the record a few dozen times claiming that the Superman franchise will be the first casualty of the irony era. Batman's darkness is still relevant, the same goes for The X-Men, and there's every reason to think the Spider-Man films can stay wacky and vibrant. But Superman? Out of place in our culture. When films like The Social Network and The Hurt Locker are considered indicative of our culture, you know we’ve lost out innocence. That’s the precise peril the latest Superman was in.
But no more! They did something right, and that something is Henry Cavill. At first blush Cavill, the Brit who was passed over in favor of Brandon Routh on Superman Returns, doesn't seem a likely Superman. Cavill was in the running to be James Bond, a role he also lost out on. In fact, the past seven years have played out like a horror show for the actor, he's been tested and passed on for more franchise roles than most actors would dare dream of. Which is precisely why I love him for the part, because he's been through a hefty amount of yearning. He's not the golden boy, Mr. America, God-like hero above it all. He's everyman, or at least as everyman as an actor can get. Plus, and not for nothing, he's been very solid in The Tudors. This Cavill fellow possesses some grit, he's been knocked down and he keeps coming back for more.
As such, nice work Superman: Man of Steel. You've got our attention amidst a crowded 2012 crowd.