Movie Review: Superman III (1983)
Synopsis: When Gus Gorman is caught using his computer skills to skim money from his company, he avoids going to prison by helping his employer, Ross Webster, with his own criminal activity. There's just one person standing in Webster's way, Superman. Fortunately for the villain, an artificially created kryptonite has turned Superman into a bad guy.
Who's in it? The movie stars Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, Robert Vaughn, Annie Ross and Annette O'Toole.
Review: I was flipping channels this morning and came across Superman III. Since it has been a while since I've watched this film, I decided to give it a try again. Overall, it was about what I remembered it to be - a movie that is often criticized but isn't too terrible if you look at it from a different point of view.
OK, to be clear, as a Superman movie, this film leaves a lot to be desired. Gene Hackman's Lex Luthor is noticeably absent with Ross Webster (Vaughn) clearly just a Lex Luthor rip-off. Meanwhile, Lois Lane (Margot Kidder) and Jimmy Olsen (Marc McClure) aren't given much more than cameos and the more serious scenes are diminished by attempts to make it a comedy film. I'm also not so certain some scenes weren't written (and potentially filmed) while under the influence of powerful drugs.
All that said, if you think of the movie less as a Superman film that features Richard Pryor and more as a Richard Pryor film that happens to have Superman (Reeve), the movie isn't as bad as the critics say. Guss Gorman (Pryor) is a likable guy who gets caught in a bad situation and has a redeeming character arc as he first tries to help his boss kill Superman then ends up saving him.
Also, there are Superman elements in this movie that weren't all that terrible. The evil Superman storyline, for example, is intriguing, albeit a little underdone, and that Superman/Clark Kent battle was fun to watch, though a little confusing (it was one of the scenes I am connecting to drug use).
The part I liked most though was the decision to bring Lana Lang (O'Toole) in as a new love interest. I liked how she was in love with Clark and not Superman, which is the opposite of his relationship with Lois Lane. In a non-Richard Pryor version, that would be something I would have loved to see explored in more detail.
If I had any real complaints about the movie, it would be the ending because it kind of skips over what happens to the bad guys and then leaves the door open as far as Gorman's future is concerned. I would have liked to see a little more closure.
Final Opinion: I won't go as far as to say this is my favorite Superman movie, but I think it is a film that is underrated and is a fun movie to watch as long as you accept Pryor is meant to be the main star.
My Grade: B-
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Here are some reviews of other movies from 1983:
Movie Review: Christine (1983)
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