While James Gunn’s work on recent DC Comics projects like The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker was loaded with a refreshing divergence of misfit anti-heroes, they still had heart. Gunn’s take on Superman reveals that the heart is still beating strong and can carry over into A-listers. He doesn’t try to recreate what Richard Donner had perfected, nor does he aim to go subversively grimy as with Zack Snyder. Gunn has crafted his own Superman ripped from his favorite pages and spun from his own hallmarks. And his Superman is a kind dork who loves dogs.

David Corenswet effortlessly steps into the role of Superman without wasting time with origins. Forgoing the typical story every comic book fan knows by heart, Gunn’s film features the iconic superhero literally hitting the ground running from the first frame. The brisk start allows the film to focus on the juicier aspects of Clark Kent’s life. We know Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) is in love with Superman, and their relationship has entered the stage where journalistic integrity and debates about vigilantism have popped up in their evening dates. They fight, yet still manage to be a cute couple with Clark’s dorky fumbling and Lois’s wry assertions.

Without the standard Superman story beats, the film can center more on the political aspects of Superman’s immigrant status and role in geopolitical conflicts. These aspects are easy to exploit for someone as calculating as Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who is already armed with a complex scheme for getting rid of a caped Kryptonian. With Lex’s fiendish ability to demonize Superman for the public and the government, there’s extra pressure on the hero to use his powers wisely. We know he can beat the crap out of a giant monster that roams Metropolis; beating up that monster while ensuring nobody dies and city damage is minimal takes extra effort.

The presence of other superheroes on the block further presses Superman’s heroism. This ensemble leans more towards that of Justice League International from the comics, though the group name is still a work in progress. The team isn’t perfect, given the arrogance of Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), the blunt fury of Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and the annoyed attitude of Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), a man who is smart with technology but lousy with people. Although Superman predictably will work alongside these heroes, he’ll also have to be better than them, considering they don’t operate with the same sense of tact. However, the potential is there, and Superman’s ability to find the best in everyone keeps this film as warm as his heat vision.

Adhering to Superman’s incredible speed, the film zips through many hurdles that could drag down this new Man of Steel. However, the momentum increases further due to how much ground Gunn wants to cover. Unfortunately, this means that many of the aspects covered sometimes get reduced, as with Clark’s relationship to his parents, Johnathan (Pruitt Taylor Vince) and Martha Kent (Neva Howell). We don’t get much of them in this film, despite one of the central themes of nature versus nurture and how crucial that plays into Superman’s public perceptions and Clark’s internal feelings for being adopted. But for what ultimately boils down to a monologue from Jonathan about choice and defining yourself beyond your lineage, it hits hard instead of feeling like the standard emotional pitstop for Superman’s reason to keep fighting.

But what’s most refreshing is how the film can be funny without feeling safe. Gunn’s irreverence works beautifully in his script, which offers some natural levity from the various poignant and pointed themes. While it is inspiring that this Superman film can be more politically fervent, it helps to be aware that it’s all centering around a dude running around in red underwear. That embrace of the absurd makes this a superhero world of remarkable potential. It’s a film in which Superman’s dog companion, Krypto, can be given character, posed more as an unruly pup needing training. Even throwaway roles like Luthor’s obnoxious girlfriend Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio) and Superman’s robot helper Four (Alan Tudyk) are given some charm instead of just being standard devices for keeping the story moving. While there are some cameos of Gunn’s previous DC works, they’re thankfully treated more like Easter Eggs instead of homework, so you won’t have to put Creature Commandos on your watchlist to understand the importance of Rick Flag Senior (Frank Grillo).

Superman highlights what makes me love the Man of Steel in a film bound with bravery and brightness. A lesser director would’ve reduced such a picture to either retooling Superman’s villains, coating him in modern cynicism, or harping on the binary battle of brain versus brawn (which the film thankfully counters directly). But this is the Superman that keeps me returning to the comics, the kind of superhero who can declare that his compassion might be the new punk rock with equal parts earnest and smirk. Having a superhero who isn’t afraid to save people (and squirrels), show some warmth in his societal views, and boldness in his ability to approach politics makes him far more compelling than whether or not he can punch a planet.