Common Sense Note
Parents should know that Richard Pryor's Gus Gorman is as much of the main character in this movie as Superman. Therefore, expect some of the "loveable" con-artist antics that made Pryor famous in his R-rated films, including drunkenness, theft, avoiding honest work, and even letting a swear word slip out. It's all suitably rendered PG-mild, though.
Families can talk about the splitting up of Superman's "good" and "evil" sides; who ever thought Superman would have a dark side at all? What could the Man of Steel have going on inside to be frustrated and angry about? If you're hip to DC comics, you can talk with kids about how Batman is often described as the dark version of Superman, and take the philosophizing from there.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Charles Cassady, Jr.
If Superman could leap a tall building in a single bound, it would be pretty easy for him to "jump the shark." Many thought that's what the Christopher Reeve series, following Superman II, did in this sequel, which amplifies the comedy.
Evidently feeling that a Superman blockbuster deserved nothing but the best, the filmmakers hired the top box-office draw of the time, edgy comedian Richard Pryor, for a starring role opposite Reeve. Pryor brought his typical screen persona, a rebellious urban petty hustler, somewhat jarringly, into Metropolis.
As much as comic-book purists were incensed, there's plenty of precedent in their precious magazines, where stars like Pat Boone, Jerry Lewis, and the Beatles made such Super-cameos in print and joked around. Though it's not up to the first Superman: The Movie, this installment isn't an embarrassment (unless you wince at inaccurate depiction of computer technology), and there are some intriguing elements.
Pryor plays Gus Gorman, a perpetually jobless guy who finally gets low-level work in computer maintenance at a huge Metropolis corporation. The uneducated Gus turns out to be a surprise computer prodigy -- computer knowledge and data technology in this film are pretty much a kind of awesome, omnipotent magic, a recurring and amusing cliche in movies of this time.
When Gorman uses his programming talents to try and scam this company out of a fortune, he's not fired but promoted by his greedy boss Ross Webster (Robert Vaughn), to become a top-level hacker and help wreak worldwide disasters that will allow Webster to control coffee and oil markets. Since only Superman (Christopher Reeve) can stop this, Webster assigns Gorman to figure out a way to kill Superman.
Superman himself -- as Clark Kent -- has been revisiting his hometown of Smallville for a high-school reunion. He rekindles a friendship with Lana Lang (Annette O'Toole), once the prettiest girl in class, now a divorced, struggling single mother. The two have something that looks like an incipient romance (Margot Kidder's Lois Lane is in on vacation for almost the whole movie, incidentally), and Clark even becomes a father-figure for Lang's boy, who, of course, needs rescuing by Superman now and then.
Meanwhile, Gus Gorman's scheming has produced a synthetic kryptonite in trying to brew up the only substance deadly to Superman. It's flawed, however, and instead of destroying Superman it causes personality change, bringing out Superman's selfish, morose, and evil aspects.
Christopher Reeve, who fought a never-ending battle against movie critics over how good an actor he really was, is especially noteworthy here, hardening his eyes and tightening his jaw and making this Mr. Hyde-Superman callous, unshaven, and homicidal, as he pulls super-pranks like blowing out the Olympics Games torch and straightening the leaning Tower of Pisa. Ultimately Superman splits into two beings who fight for dominance in a junkyard, in a highlight action sequence.
Though SUPERMAN III was followed by one more Christopher Reeve entry, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, viewers who enjoy this one might want to check out Bustin' Loose. No comic-book special effects, just Richard Pryor starring in a pretty standard-issue children's comedy plot, super-heroically making it entertaining by his presence. For a more modern Superman movie, check out Superman Returns.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentA villain's girlfriend/mistress is usually in tight, revealing clothing. Superman, slightly warped by Kryptonite, spends the night with her. |
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ViolenceStrenuous fighting between super-beings, but no blood. Missiles and lighting bolts are repeatedly fired at Superman. Jimmy Olsen falls, suffers a fracture. One character is turned into a Borg-like cyborg, but reverts to normal. |
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LanguageA few curse words. |
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Social BehaviorThe movie's scene-stealing guest star, Richard Pryor is thieving and helping the bad guys one minute, admiring and helping Superman the next. Rendered "sick" by imperfectly synthesized kryptonite, a surly, evil Superman commits mischief, vandalism, and causes an oil slick. There's a clear victory for the "good" half of his personality, though. |
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CommercialismLots of product labels appear, including Kentucky Fried Chicken. An attack on Superman literally turns into a vintage Atari video game. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoThe `evil' Superman gets drunk right in front of the shocked citizens of Metropolis. Another character, described as a washed-up high-school athlete, is perpetually sloshed and hostile. In both cases, these activities are disapproved of. However, Gus Gorman gets comically drunk (and tricks a guard into a drunken stupor) to gain access to a computer. |
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