Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) Movie Review

Synopsis:

Superman (Christopher Reeve) aims to put an end to an arms race by ridding the world of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor (Gene Hackman) seeks to take down Superman by synthesizing a new threat called Nuclear Man (Mark Pillow).

Review:

For context, Superman IV was actor Christopher Reeve’s final outing as the Man of Steel.

To say he went out on a low note would be an understatement.

Directed by Sidney J. Furie, Superman IV contains a farcical plot and an average script.

It also has a laughable threat to Superman in the form of Nuclear Man.

Their confrontations are nothing more than awkwardness. These make for some unintentional laughter.

Mark Pillow’s performance amounts to out-of-place roaring and “Destroy Superman.” That is all there is to his character.

Furthermore, his creation makes little sense. Using a strand of Superman’s hair (don’t ask how), Lex Luthor creates Nuclear Man.

It is very clear throughout that his power originates from the Sun. Upon his introduction, he walks into the shade and loses his power.

This makes Nuclear Man borderline useless if the Sun isn’t involved.

Nuclear Man is without question this film series’ worst villain and what may be the worst Superman villain in history.

Returning after his absence in Superman III (1983) is Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor.

Though Gene does show occasional charisma, most of that is overshadowed by the film’s dull plot.

To be clear, most of it focuses on a nuclear arms race and Nuclear Man.

This makes the film’s 1-hour 30-minute runtime drag. Also, most of the actors involved seem tired and checked out of the film.

This includes the returning Margot Kidder as Lois Lane. While she gets one or two meaningful scenes with Clark, Kidder does not get much beyond this.

Superman IV also introduces a new character in the form of Lacy Warfield (Mariel Hemingway).

She acts as a secondary character who later shows affection for Clark Kent.

While Mariel has an attractive presence, her character is shallow. Other than being a wealthy woman who dresses in extravagant clothes, there is little else to her.

Superman IV does show some strength in Christopher Reeve’s final performance. Despite the embarrassment surrounding him, Reeve is a welcome presence on screen.

It’s a shame that the worst practical effects and visuals of the entire series are alongside him. Superman IV includes laughable practical effects that have not aged well.

This film is so lazy that it reuses shots of Superman flying towards the screen.

All the director did was change the background to make the viewer assume they were different. Furthermore, the wirework is more obvious than ever.

Considering they take place during the daytime, this makes them look even worse. Also, the film’s visual style is drab and dull.

What is also disappointing is Alexander Courage’s original score. It lacks the energy and presence of John Williams’s work.

This is despite Alexander attempting new themes for the film. While his score is not awful, it fails to have the presence required for a Superman film.

Conclusion:

To conclude, Superman IV is the Man of Steel’s worst film entry. Its practical effects, visuals, and villain are all major flaws.

It’s also clear that most of the original cast got tired of the film series at this point. This is evident in their performances, which are average.

Gene Hackman’s Lex even lacks the same energy and charisma as usual. This is down to the film’s lack of quality writing rather than anything else.

Mariel Hemingway’s Lacy Warfield, while attractive, is a shallow character.

Other than showing occasional affection for Clark Kent, she fails to have much else.

One exception to this is Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent and Superman. While the events taking place around him are comical, his positivity remains.

It is a shame that Superman IV’s practical effects and visuals are so outdated and lifeless. Much of it involves very obvious wire work and how it reuses shots.

Alexander Courage’s original score also lacks the presence that a Superman film should have. His attempts at new themes are also forgettable.

Superman IV is a clear example of what happens to a film series that has overstayed its welcome.

For Christopher Reeve’s final outing, Superman IV will leave fans underwhelmed.

Sam’s Action Reaction score:

Characters - 5/10

Story- 4.5/10

Practical effects - 4.5/10

Visuals - 5/10

Soundtrack - 5.5/10

Overall score: 4.9 out of 10