{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Super (2010): Is James Gunn's TWISTED Superhero Movie Really That Awful? | Ft. Josh Axelrod","description":"This is a spoiler-filled review and discussion of Super (2010), directed by James Gunn and starring Rainn Wilson and Elliot Page, covering the film's violence, its most divisive scene, and what it means that its director now runs DC Studios. Before James Gunn was directing Superman, he wrote and directed Super (2010) \u2014 and it's way darker than you remember. Brian and John are joined by Josh Axelrod, Director of Media & Press Relations at the Lindsay Theater, to break down Super (2010) \u2014 and this time, our guest actually came in ready to fight us on it.   Super (2010) Quick Facts: Director\/Writer: James Gunn \u2014 before Guardians of the Galaxy and his current role as co-CEO of DC Studios Starring: Rainn Wilson, Elliot Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon Budget: $2.5 million | Box Office: ~$593,000 Genre: Dark Comedy \/ Superhero | Runtime: 96 min | Rating: R In this Super (2010) review, we cover James Gunn's unfiltered Troma origins and how they bleed into this movie, whether Frank Darbo is a hero or just a fundamentally broken person the film never makes answer for, the uncomfortable racial coding in who Frank targets, the sexual assault scene that still divides horror and superhero fans alike, and how this $2.5 million flop somehow became the blueprint for the guy now running DC Studios. Plus: our listener and critic reviews segment. No spoiler-free zone here \u2014 full spoilers ahead, so watch the movie first if you're avoiding them. Super (2010) | Director: James Gunn | Starring: Rainn Wilson, Elliot Page, Liv Tyler, Kevin Bacon | Genre: Dark Comedy \/ Superhero | Runtime: 96 min | Rating: R   CHAPTERS: 0:00 \u2013 Cold Open: "The Movie You're Defending, Brian" 0:15 \u2013 Welcome + Super (2010) Episode Setup 6:55 \u2013 Super Synopsis (Spoiler-Free) 5:32 \u2013 James Gunn's Unfiltered Troma Origins 14:51 \u2013 The Budget vs. The Box Office Flop 19:07 \u2013 What Is Super Actually Saying About Vigilantism? 25:35 \u2013 The Racial Coding Debate 39:43 \u2013 Trigger Warning: The Sexual Assault Scene, Examined 56:50 \u2013 Is Frank a Hero or a Fundamentally Broken Person? 1:05:13 \u2013 From Troma to DC Studios: Gunn's Full Trajectory 1:08:38 \u2013 Listener & Critic Reviews 1:18:34 \u2013 Does the Movie Let Frank Off the Hook? 1:23:12 \u2013 Josh Talks the Lindsay Theater & Pittsburgh's Film Scene 1:31:39 \u2013 Follow the Show + Sign Off   FAQ Is Super (2010) based on a true story? No \u2014 it's an original story written and directed by James Gunn about an amateur vigilante. Who plays Frank in Super (2010)? Rainn Wilson. Who plays Boltie in Super (2010)? Elliot Page. Is Super (2010) hard to watch? Yes \u2014 we break down its most divisive scene, including a trigger warning, starting at 39:43. What is James Gunn's connection to DC Studios? He's currently co-CEO of DC Studios and directed Superman (2025) \u2014 we trace how Super (2010) fits into that path starting at 1:05:13.   FOLLOW THE SHOW: \ud83c\udfa7 Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https:\/\/cinemapsychoshow.com\/follow   GUEST: Josh Axelrod \u2014 Director of Media & Press Relations, Lindsay Theater (Sewickley, PA) | https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/jaxel22\/   CO-HOST: John's Channel- https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@JDUBSVIDEONASTIES   Rainn Wilson's performance walks a wild line in this movie \u2014 and we still can't agree on whether Frank is a hero or just a guy who got lucky. Drop your reaction below \u2014 hero, menace, or both? \ud83d\ude33 ","author_name":"Cinema Psychos Movie Reviews","author_url":"https:\/\/cinemapsychosshow.com","html":"