"Superman" review: A bloated movie, but a hero with heart

• It's also flawed at times, with too many characters to keep track of.

State of play: The movie opens with our hero at his most vulnerable.

• Superman is struggling to reconcile his role as an outsider who wants to uplift and save his adoptive planet.

The other side: That mission is upended by Lex Luthor (played by an excellent Nicholas Hoult), who resents Superman for making humans look weak.

Between the lines: Mixed in is the Justice Gang of Hawkgirl (played by Cleveland native Isabela Merced), Green Lantern and Mister Terrific.

• There's also DC Comics hero Metamorpho, the Daily Planet's newspaper staff, politicians and Luthor's crew of conspirators.

The bottom line: It's a lot to keep track of over two-plus hours, but actor David Corenswet shows heart as Superman.

• You're invested not only in the character but in the Warner Bros./DC Universe, which has several more projects on the way.