I understand what “Superman vs. The Elite” is trying to say and what it’s attempting to convey. We’re in a world where the boy scout in tights in longer in vogue. Now we have a bunch of misanthropic homophobic thugs in colorful outfits who are calling themselves superheroes. And the public is eating that crap up with a spoon. I’m one of the few hold outs who actually love his superheroes like Superman and less like the cynical crapola Garth Ennis spews on to the page. Ooh, he said “faggot,” ooh his superheroes have sex with guys, ooh he’s mocking Batman, he’s so edgy and unique!
Basically what “Superman vs. The Elite” boils down to is Superman meeting up with a group of superheroes who practically spilled out of Garth Ennis’s cranium and decided one day that they can do what Superman can’t. Which is eliminating all worldly threats by murder and mutilation. While I respect what the movie is playing toward, what with the increasing notion that Superman represents an archaic view of the world, the movie tries to play itself off as a clash of morals while being nothing but repetitive dialogue. Meanwhile Superman pretty much just acts like an annoying clump most of the time rather than rising to the occasion until the very end. It’s nothing but:
“We’re heroes.”
“No!”
“We’re supposed to stop bad guys!”
“Nuh uh!”
“We fight crime!”
“No, that’s bad! No!”
“We have to stop evil!”
“No! Heroes good! Bad guys bad and stuff!”
“Fight with us!”
“No! Bad guy you are! Superman good!”
And Pa Kent says ass. “Superman vs. The Elite” is often a contradiction of itself and I’m never quite sure if it’s intentional. Characters want Superman to remain pure but sprinkle obscenities in their speech, and the ultimate payback by Superman to the Elite group of thugs is masterful but much too convenient in its explanation to be bought. Superman can choose to be sentient any time he wants? Since when? “Superman vs. The Elite” is a good concept, but with better animation and a story played with less irony, it could have been utterly brilliant. This is a Superman animated movie that doesn’t quite know how to utilize Superman to its advantage and it shows. “Superman vs. The Elite” is a forgettable Superman vehicle and one I won’t be re-visiting any time soon.