Superman II

Directed by Richard Lester, Superman II follows Christopher Reeve’s title figure as he battles three evil Kryptonians (Terence Stamp’s General Zod, Sarah Douglas’ Ursa, and Jack O’Halloran’s Non, bent on world domination. Filmmaker Lester, working from Mario Puzo, David Newman, and Leslie Newman’s screenplay, delivers an exceedingly (and palpably) hit-and-miss sequel that’s rarely as compelling or engrossing as one might’ve anticipated (and hoped), as the picture, which runs a bloated 127 minutes, suffers from a general lack of forward momentum that’s compounded by its ongoing emphasis on underwhelming digressions and set-pieces (including, and especially, a fairly tiresome stretch set within Niagara Falls). And while the arms-length atmosphere is often heightened by instances of low-rent special effects and incongruous bursts of ill-fated humor, Superman II does, at least, benefit from a smattering of legitimately enthralling interludes (eg said Kryptonians murder three astronauts) and Reeve’s predictably commanding turn as the compelling protagonist – which, when coupled with a decent (albeit fairly silly) third act, ultimately confirms the film’s place as a passable (but disappointing) followup that feels like it should be so much better.

**1/2 out of ****