‘Superman’ is back on track

Donner’s film was promoted with the tag line, “You’ll believe a man can fly.” Singer’s installment goes a bit further: you’re tempted to believe that such a miracle worker could exist in the 21st century. It’s an astonishingly hopeful fantasy — which may be why the picture is unlikely to be accused of sacrilege. It’s doubtful that it would offend Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who created the original comic book in 1938 (both died in the 1990s).

“Superman Returns” is at its most playful when Singer and his writers are teasing the audience with hints about Jason’s paternity. “I’ve done Superman,” says Lois, though she quickly points out that she’s referring only to the stories she’s written about him. In a scene that recalls Superman’s X-ray vision, Jason wanders around with a garbage pail over his head, crashing into a glass door. How could he be such a klutz if he’d inherited special powers?

Spacey manages to be both funny and deeply sinister as Luthor, who is determined to cripple Superman and take over the world — even if that means wiping out billions of people and much of the United States. His dour companion, Kitty Kowalski (Parker Posey), has a soft spot for Superman (not to mention those innocent billions), but she stands by her bad man.

Quick facts Starring: Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, James Marsden, Kevin Spacey, Parker Posey Director: Bryan Singer Run time: 2 hours, 34 minutes MPAA rating: PG-13

Relationships are the key to Singer’s approach, which also makes room for Superman to reconnect with his adoptive mom (Eva Marie Saint) and the eternally juvenile Jimmy Olsen (Sam Huntington). Huntington consistently brightens the newsroom scenes, which include a sly homage to the dueling newspaper headlines in “Citizen Kane” — as well as the opportunity for Langella to declare “Great Caesar’s Ghost!” at a most appropriate moment.

The jury is still out on Routh, whose Superman suggests a lightweight imitation of Reeve’s performance. He rarely makes a false move — he’s credible in the action-heavy set pieces, charming in the more intimate scenes — but, aside from an emphasis on Superman’s lonely outcast status, he doesn’t appear to contribute anything vital of his own. Perhaps he’ll grow into it.

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