Superman/Batman: Public Enemies

Today’s quick review: Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. When Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown) becomes the President of the United States, Superman (Tim Daly) and Batman (Kevin Conroy) suspect he has ulterior motives. Their supsicions are confirmed when Luthor frames Superman for murder and dispatches a team of government-sanctioned superheroes to arrest him. Meanwhile, the Earth faces destruction from a Kryptonite meteor hurtling toward it.

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies is an animated superhero movie based on the DC comic. Batman and Superman must team up to clear Superman’s name, reveal the truth about Lex Luthor, and save the Earth from impending doom. Public Enemies is a bread-and-butter superhero adventure that draws from DC’s large roster of heroes and villains. The movie has an interesting setup and some decent action, but its story is not as compelling as it could be.

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies gets the basics of the superhero genre right: colorful characters, high stakes, and flashy fights. Having Lex Luthor in a position of authority puts a nice spin on the usual dynamic between him and Superman, while a cavalcade of villains and misguided heroes keeps Superman and Batman on the defensive for most of the film. For fans of the genre who just want something simple, Public Enemies is a fine pick.

Even so, Public Enemies makes some mistakes. The logic of the story doesn’t hold up to close scrutiny, even by the lax standards of the genre. The plot flies by the seat of its pants, with promising hooks like Luthor’s secret plan or the framing of Superman that never go anywhere interesting. And while the action works well enough, it’s not as sharp or as creative as DC’s later animated offerings, and its extended cast leaves less of an impact.

Superman/Batman: Public Enemies gets enough right to be worth a watch for fans of the superhero genre. The movie lives up to its promise of a light adventure centered around Superman and Batman, and viewers who are just want a bit of action will find what they’re looking for. But Public Enemies is missing the vision and the cohesion needed to make the most of its ideas, leaving it a step or two below DC’s best.

Check out Superman/Batman: Apocalypse for another movie in the same vein. For an animated movie focusing on Superman, try Superman: Unbound, The Death of Superman, or Reign of the Supermen. For one centered on Batman, try Son of Batman, Batman vs. Robin, or Batman: Bad Blood. For a more dramatic live-action team-up between Superman and Batman, try Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for decent story and action.